Head O’Meadow Elementary School honored veterans with an outdoor flag raising ceremony, followed by a breakfast in the school’s cafeteria, on Monday, November 11.

The school started its annual Veterans Day celebrations outside the building, where students and veterans gathered on the sidewalk for the annual flag raising ceremony. Everyone slowly started congregating outside, with many hugs and laughs shared by siblings, cousins, old friends, and more. As students came outside from their classrooms, several of them excitedly ran into the arms of their veteran they brought today.

When everyone was finally ready, HOM Principal Timothy Napolitano spoke to the crowd and said that he was incredibly happy to see so many people in attendance for their Veterans Day celebration. He then spoke directly to the veterans in the crowd and thanked them for their service before proceeding with the flag raising.

“We will all be celebrating today ... but I really love seeing our whole school community together this morning,” Napolitano said. “We’re going to begin this morning with our flag raising.”

US Navy Veteran Jerome Rookasin, 93, was one of the many veterans in the crowd that morning and had the honor of raising the flag during the celebration. He was joined for the special occasion by his granddaughter Danielle Maruschak, as well as his great-granddaughter and HOM kindergarten student Lucy Maruschak. Rookasin had a big smile on his face as he and everyone else quietly watched the flag climb higher and higher up into the sky. When the flag finally reached the highest point it could, everyone applauded and moved on to the next part of the ceremony: the Pledge of Allegiance.

After a moment of silence, students in every grade lined up on the sidewalk and finished the ceremony by singing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” and “This Land Is Your Land” for all the veterans in the crowd. Students sung their hearts out in both songs and even danced along to “This Land Is Your Land,” doing different moves depending on the lyrics. However, nothing made the students as happy as when teachers told them to point to a veteran when they sang the lines “this land is your land, this land is my land.”

Students and veterans then went inside the school and walked to the cafeteria for the breakfast portion of the ceremony. Spread out across the cafeteria were tables covered in red and blue table cloths. At the center of every table was a jar holding white flowers and an American flag. At the center of the room was a long rectangular table filled with all sorts of food. People could fill their plates with eggs, sausage, bacon, pastries such as croissants and munchkins, fruits such as strawberries, bananas, and mangos, and more. There was also water, orange juice, coffee, and other drinks for people to have with their meal. All of the food came courtesy of parent donations, as well as from businesses Kash & Liv, Uncle Matt’s Bakery and Cafe, Stacks Mobile, and Bagel Delight.

Before everyone could grab a bite to eat though, Napolitano once again spoke to everyone in attendance. He said it was a “very special day at Head O’Meadow” and that it was a pleasure to have so many people at the ceremony to honor their veterans. He added that they serve as role models for the community “every single day.”

“In elementary school, we attempt to teach children many things, but it’s our goal to teach students not only academics, but also promote great character, citizenship, and kindness,” Napolitano continued. “Veterans are men and women of great character. They represent courage, commitment to service, and love for our country. The entire Head O’Meadow community is proud to have them among us this morning. We’re so pleased to have the chance to say thank you. Thank you for your service, and thank you for your loyalty and commitment to our country.”

The indoor ceremony finished with HOM fourth graders singing a few songs for the veterans under the guidance of music teacher and fourth grade choral director Cindy Holberg.

Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.