Westland Elementary School’s fifth annual Veterans Day celebration was the largest yet, coordinator Hillary Moser said. Forty-five veterans who are neighbors, friends, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents of students attended the event.

The celebration commenced with a parade of veterans led by two bagpipe players, a Herriman High School JROTC color guard and West Jordan Mayor Dirk Burton. Students walked with their veterans along hallways lined with students and teachers waving flags, clapping and cheering.

Once everyone had filed into the gym, students sang the national anthem and a medley of the songs of the five branches of the military. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Willard Evans, whose great-grandchildren attend Westland Elementary, spoke about the oath those who serve in the military take to protect their country.

Then each veteran stood as their name and rank were read and received applause from their family members, guests and students. The loudest and longest applause was for 99-year-old Army Private First Class Frank Brown, the only World War II veteran in attendance. Brown’s grandson, the father of Westland students, shared stories of Brown’s time stationed in Italy during and after the war.

Principal Ann Pessetto thanked the veterans for their incredible service to their country and encouraged students to honor them with respect for their sacrifices.

“One thing I want our students to know is that we do see our military veterans and our military personnel as heroes, as people who do the right thing, even when it's difficult to do,” she said.