Paying respects
Nick Ianniello/Mineral Independent VFW Post 6238 Bugler Bernie Walsh plays taps during a Veteran's Day ceremony at Superior Elementary Tuesday afternoon. Students gathered in the school's gym after classes to pay their respects to veterans.
Students from Superior Elementary School gathered in their gym in celebration of Veteran's Day Tuesday afternoon before heading home for the day to pay their respects to the veterans that have served the country.
"There are Americans in every single country in the world working for you and me," said Superior Elementary Principal Scott Kinney. "So it is important to pay our respects to them today."
The Superior Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6238 provided an honor guard for the presentation that posted the American and Montana Flags for the group.
Then the group watched a few videos that taught them about veterans in America.
The first video, narrated by movie star Jennifer-Love Hewitt, taught the children exactly what it means to be a veteran and gave them ideas for how to pay their respects and help veterans in the area.
The second video told the story of Winston Lee, the first Chinese Pilot in World War II. It highlighted his granddaughter Lindi Lee's decision to join the armed forces to honor her grandfather and country and further her own ambitions.
Lini Lee is currently working as a combat photographer, taking photos of American Military action around the world to record what American Armed Forces are doing for people throughout the world.
The Superior VFW Post 6328 clapped loudly when the poetry reading was completed, as did the rest of the audience.
After the second video, each student in Angie Hopwood's sixth grade class read a poem they had written about veterans to the group.
The entire gym was silent as each student paid their respects in rhyme and meter to both the veterans in the room and around the country.
Afterwards the Superior VFW Post 6238 retired the colors and bugler Bernie Walsh played taps for the group.
VFW member H. F. Berneking gave each of the students he passed a high five as the post filed out of the gymnasium.
Every year Superior Elementary holds a presentation to remind their students how important veterans are. The Superior VFW Post 6328 has been a part of the presentation for many years now and Berneking said that he thoroughly enjoys spending time with the students and appreciates the thought they put into Veteran's Day.
"As much as they appreciate us we have to appreciate them sitting there and listening," Berneking said. "They get as much out of it as we do."