Students and guests at Valley Intermediate School’s annual Veteran’s Day program clapped and cheered loudly as the veterans they came to honor paraded into the school’s cafeteria.  The men and women marched proudly behind the poster bearing their branch of service and entered to their respective military theme songs.

The program, held November 8, featured Lt. Colonel Kirk Slaughter, father of student Zoe Slaughter, as the guest speaker.  He spoke to the students about not forgetting about the price that was paid by veterans in order for them to enjoy the freedoms they enjoy today, including the ability to attend school. He also shared that he recently had the honor of administering the oath of enlistment to his son, who has followed in his father’s footsteps to serve in the military.

The program ended with a special video tribute put together by the VAIS students to say “thank you” to the veterans.  In addition to students, the video also featured Principal Dana Payne Martin, who honored her son, Tyler Payne, a Marine currently deployed to Lybia.