Pleasant Valley Elementary School welcomed 42 veterans and their family members to a Veterans Day parade and ceremony on Thursday morning.

“This is one of my favorite days of the year,” said Principal Roger Pomposello, who was dressed as Uncle Sam. “You fought for this country and this flag. I was very close to my father-in-law, who served in the Army in Vietnam. He loved to come to this parade and see the kids waving flags and handing letters to veterans.”

Pomposello and other school administrators welcomed the honored guests, who had gathered on the playground just outside the school. They had coffee and refreshments while waiting for their student to come outside.

This is also one of John Borger’s favorite days of the year.

“I take the day off from work to be here with my daughter. Later, I will go over to PVI to see my son and watch his school’s event,” Borger said.

Borger did one tour in Iraq as an Army gunner in combat. His daughter, third-grade student Kaia Borger, gave him a big hug and waved a small flag. When the parade began, she walked beside her father.

Bagpiper Gene Kutzler, of Celtic United Pipes and Drums, played while leading Pomposello and the group down the hill. He served in the 82nd Airborne division of the Army during the Vietnam era.

“I was stationed at Fort Bragg (in North Carolina) as a military policeman to protect the fort and everyone there,” he said. “I have played the bagpipes for 25 years.”

As he led the parade, nearly 1,200 students and their teachers were lined up around the perimeter of the back parking lot. They waved flags and banners and cheered for the veterans.

“Today is a very special day. We are honoring and thanking all the veterans,” said Assistant Principal Sabrina Albright during brief opening remarks.

She introduced a handful of students, wearing their Boy Scout or Girl Scout uniforms, who recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Then Ms. Valerie Rudawski’s kindergarten class waved scarves as a patriotic tune played.

“As part of the third-grade music curriculum, we learn patriotic music,” said music teacher Jo Sponsler.

She led the third-graders as they sang “This Land is Your Land” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”

“These are America’s heroes sitting in front of us,” Pomposello said during closing remarks.

He asked all the students to count to three and then yell, “Thank you” to the 42 veterans.

“I enjoyed this event very much. It was very inspirational,” said Mitch Hawk Sr., who was a Navy SEAL for six years - two years spent in Vietnam and the other four years at various places inside the United States - and was seated next to his granddaughter, third-grade student Kaylee Hawk.