Veterans of every branch enjoyed a warm welcome from students at Pleasant Valley Elementary on Friday morning, complete with musical numbers, art projects, and plenty of high-fives and fist-bumps.

Prior to running two short videos that focused on the men and women of the United States Armed Services, PVE social studies teacher Teresa Greggo personally expressed her own thanks to the veterans in attendance."This is our honor, that you are here today," Greggo, the event organizer, said to the crowd. "We are so happy we can host you this morning. The students are really psyched about this."Greggo has a special connection with the veterans, with two family members having served themselves."My brother was here, Air Force. I'm honored, he drove two-and-a-half hours last night to come to this," Greggo said of her brother Clifford Flick. "He will then visit our Marine uncle, who is 91 years old, at the nursing home and he will bring a poster from the children. It's a wonderful family connection."The festivities kicked off with the veterans lining the back entrances of the school to accept the gratitude of the students as they filed in the building.A group of three trumpeters and two drummers, led by PVE music teacher and Army veteran Evan Reese, regaled the crowd with music."We were playing all five of the service songs, from each branch of the service," Reese said. "We had our nurse from PVE, Mrs. Jochen, who is playing trumpet, and we had some high school kids help us out as well. Mr. Jim Devivo, who is the high school band director, supplied them to us today."It's great to have such a turnout and see all the guys that served."High school drummers Joshua Burpo, 17, and Matthew Schmitt, 16, along with trumpeters Conor Pandolfo, 18, and Patrick Soares, 15, were honored to partake in the event."It feels good. They do a lot for our country, and any way that we can give back, we can," Pandolfo said."Any time you hear the Army song, it just brings back lots of memories," Jochen, who served with the Army, said. "I'm proud for all of those that have given their lives, and have served, and are still protecting our country today."Accompanied by assistant principal Roger Pomposello, who was decked out in an Uncle Sam outfit, the veterans paraded through the student-lined hallways, accepting gifts of artwork from the children as they walked by."It's a great time, to be able to say hi to the kids, show our men and women that are in the military, as well as former service members that were able to protect our country, and show our presence here," Air Force veteran Everett Shaver said. "The kids were coming up to us, giving high-fives, saluting us. We were saluting them back."In addition to veterans, several active duty service members showed up to the school as well."It was an honor to see the kids acknowledge the veterans, and to see the fellow service members," Navy Petty Officer First Class Joshua Fetterman said.The parade concluded in the cafeteria, where young chorus students serenaded the attendees with songs that thanked them for their service and the freedom everyone enjoys."I'm glad to see the schools of the new generation are starting to realize all that the veterans have actually done for them," U.S. Coast Guard veteran John Trough said.Refreshments were served to the remaining servicemen, after which the students returned to their classes."I felt really proud of myself, because I did this all for them. They served us, and now it's our turn to serve them," third-grader Luma Rowashda, 9, said.