Pleasant Valley Elementary School celebrated Veterans Day on Friday with a parade and assembly. Special guests included Uncle Sam and U.S. veterans who students in kindergarten through second grade invited.

“The kids are excited about today. You have earned this celebration,” said Principal Roger Pomposello, who dresses up every year as Uncle Sam during his welcome remarks to the veterans and family members gathered in the cafeteria.

Veterans Day is a special day for Pomposello, and sometimes the tears come, as he remembers his late father-in-law, who died from side effects of Agent Orange, a toxic herbicide used to clear foliage during the Vietnam War.

“We are here to honor the active-duty soldiers and veterans, who are the heroes of this great country,” he said.

Students drew and colored pictures of flags and messages of thanks, which were on the tables in the cafeteria. Throughout the hallways, there were handmade patriotic decorations and banners.

Uncle Sam and bagpiper Gene Kutzler led the parade of students and veterans from the cafeteria through the main hallways upstairs, down the stairs, through the lower level, and back upstairs and into the gymnasium for the assembly.

As they paraded, staff and students lined the hallways, waving flags and holding out their hands for a handshake or high-five from veterans such as Frank “Dudley” Mittermeier.

“This event is heartfelt. It is so awesome to be here each year,” said Mittermeier, who served in the Army during Vietnam and is a member of the American Legion Riders in Gilbert.

After the event, he collected the coloring sheets from the tables to put inside care packages that are sent to soldiers and veterans during the holiday season.

“I’m really excited. This is his first year here,” said Lily Mullin, a second-grade student.

She and her younger sister, Eva Mullin, paraded with their dad, Robert Mullin, who served 3½ years in the Army and was at Fort Bragg – now called Fort Liberty – in North Carolina.

Janine and Ed Belvis paraded with their niece, first-grader Sydney Ward. The couple met while serving in the National Guard. They have a daughter.

Jeff Charles, who served in the Coast Guard from 1983 to 1987, has been part of the annual PVE Veterans Day festivities many times. His wife, Diane Charles, teaches second grade at PVE.

“I did a lot of patrols in the Caribbean during peace time. I was part of the law enforcement team on our ship,” he said. “I also inspected fishing vessels to make sure they followed safety procedures and had the right size nets, for instance.”

Led by their teachers, the kindergarten students marched into the gymnasium waving flags, shaking musical instruments and singing along to a patriotic tune.

Music teacher Jo Sponsler spent the last few weeks teaching the students what the word “patriotic” means and the songs they sang Friday during the assembly.

First grade sang, “Sing Out for Your Country,” while second grade sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” and You’re a Grand Old Flag.”

The William Allen High School NJROTC also participated in the day’s event. Pomposello said they arrived super early to rehearse in the hallway and ease their nervousness.

Members included: Cadet Lieutenant Diamond Torres, color guard commander and American flag holder; Cadet Ensign Illianna Williams, Navy Flag holder; Cadet Lieutenant Junior Grade Oscar Morales, right rifleman; Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Jayden Peralta, left rifleman; and Charles T. Mahala, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC (ret.) and Naval Science Instructor.