Central Elementary School Celebrates and Honors Local Veterans
This Veterans Day, Central Elementary School gathered together to celebrate and honor local veterans through a morning of music, appreciation, and community spirit. The school welcomed veterans for a special breakfast, musical performance, and a parade through the hallways.
The event was organized by Anna Jeffries, Central Elementary’s math interventionist. In collaboration with Marsha Morgan, the school’s music teacher, they planned a musical program for the honored guests. Students from Taylor Kilgore and Calla Trusty’s classes were the featured performers, singing songs that filled the cafeteria with a celebratory spirit.
Central Elementary students and staff were encouraged to invite veteran family members to join the celebration. This year, 88 family members and friends attended, with 39 veterans recognized for their service.
The morning opened with a breakfast provided by the Central Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), followed by a 20-minute musical tribute. The celebration concluded with a heartfelt parade through the school, led by Sergeant Zach Anderson, Central’s School Resource Officer (SRO) and the lead SRO for Oxford School District. Students gathered in the hallways waving handmade flags and cheering as veterans paraded through.
The Veterans Day program has become a treasured tradition at Central Elementary. Each year, veterans proudly share pieces of their service history with students — bringing items such as Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars, dog tags, and other meaningful pieces representing their years of service. Additionally, many veterans took time to share the stories and explain the roles they served in the military, sparking curiosity and thoughtful questions from students.
Many veterans shared that the ceremony was one of the most meaningful Veterans Day celebrations they’ve attended, made special by the students’ kindness and enthusiasm. We are thankful for the veterans in our community and for the opportunity to show appreciation for their service.
by Camille White, Communications Specialist
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