Pleasant Valley Elementary School held its annual Veterans Day Parade and celebration on Friday morning.

As students lined the hallways, veterans and those with children in the school paraded down the center giving high-fives and big grins to all. In return, the children waved their American flags and cheered the veterans as they paraded past.

“I think it should be part of our society,” said elementary school STREAM teacher George Pekurny about Veterans Day events at schools. He took over organizing the event after the social studies teacher, who had started the tradition, retired.

“We need to respect the veterans and the sacrifices they made,” he said. “(The students) need to realize people are out their risking their lives for them.”

The event was arranged by Pekurney, along with help from school staff and cafeteria workers.

The parade began around 9:20 a.m., as soon as classes settled down, and culminated in the school cafeteria with brunch for the veterans.

After the parade, the third-grade chorus sang “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “My Country Tis of Thee,” and other patriotic songs. Their teacher, Christina Shoemaker, said they had been practicing a long time for the event. The hard-work paid off. After their final song, the veterans and guests gave them a standing ovation for a job well-done.

The school has held the Veterans Day event for the last seven years. The school’s Principal Roger Pomposello said the event is particularly important to him. His father-in-law passed away from complications due to exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, but he was able to attend the event two years ago.

“He was just so proud,” he said. “It feels great to be respected, because when they came back from Vietnam, not so many were.”

Pomposello, who dressed up like Uncle Sam for the parade, said giving the children an opportunity to see these veterans, show their appreciation for what these men and women did for our country, and give them a chance to say thank you is “a life learning activity.”

“You can’t get this out of textbooks,” he said. “You can’t forget these people.”

Pekurny said veterans from the American Legion in Gilbert and the VALOR House came to the event, as well as family members of the students who are veterans and those on an extensive email contact list. About 50 veterans in all attended the event.

David Tonkay, a parent of a student at the school and a veteran, said last year was the first time he came to the event.

“It’s really great. They put a lot of work into it,” he said. “The principal did a lot of work. (Pomposello dressed up like Uncle Sam with a white beard and a red, white and blue top hat.) And the chorus was awesome.”