Marking the 100th anniversary of what is now known as Veterans Day, Lehighton Area Elementary students and staff paid tribute to the men and women who serve or served in the United States military during a special program for third through fifth grades Monday afternoon.

Members of the Lehighton United Veterans Organization visited the school and spoke to students about the importance of the holiday.

“It’s very special to be up in front of everyone and even more special to have my fellow veterans with me,” said Kevin Long, Lehighton UVO commander, as he described the history of the day, which started as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I.

In between singing patriotic songs, students heard from local historian and elementary teacher Ronald Rabenold. He highlighted the accomplishments of several local veterans, many of whom are related to district staff members, who can be seen on banners throughout town.

“I think the message today is that veterans are all around us and, in my opinion, they are the whole fabric of this country,” Rabenold said. “People like myself who have never served are totally indebted to them. They gave time out of their life to give to their country to keep us safe. They really help us to be better at everything we do.”

A slideshow of local veterans included men like Ray Koons, a high school dropout who went on to serve in the Marines and later get his GED. Koons, Rabenold said, joined the military at a young age to help support his family. He later became a Lehighton elementary principal.

“Ray did everything he could for country and community,” Rabenold told students.

The program included a CBS news video featuring Lehighton graduate and native Clarence Smoyer, the subject of an upcoming Adam Makos book, “Spearhead: The World War II Odyssey of an American Tank Gunner.”

The book chronicles the trek of Smoyer, an American tank gunner, driving with his compatriots in the 3rd Armored Division into the heart of Germany.

Rabenold said he had hopes to get Smoyer to visit the school next year.

Fellow teacher Patricia Ebbert brought in a flag, given to her and her husband in honor of their son Neal, who served in the U.S. Air Force for nine years. The flag, she said, flew twice in Iraq, during a mission in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

This being the first Veterans Day in the new elementary center, the school featured its Wall of Honor for the first time. On it are pictures of veterans related to students or staff.

Following the program, Anna Hawk, a third-grade student, said the veterans who served this country are one of the groups of people she is most thankful for as Thanksgiving approaches.

“I think today was very important for our students,” Dr. Mark McGalla, elementary principal, said, “as far as learning what a veteran is and appreciating their service and dedication.”