Students thank veterans for service

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Veterans Day is next Wednesday, but Friday morning several men and women were honored for their service to the country at Metz Elementary School in East Austin.

"This is an incredible thing Metz Elementary does every year," said Capt. James Crabtree with the Marine Corp Reserves. "It's the best Veterans Day program I've seen a school do."

Hundreds of elementary school students honored 30 veterans from our current war in Iraq all the way back to World War II.

All of this comes just one day after the mass shooting at Fort Hood, but the events of Thursday did not overshadow the celebration.

"It's a horrible tragedy, but it doesn't have any bearing on what our veterans have done for this nation," said Crabtree. "And this day is about celebrating and honoring veterans, so I don't think it will have any impact."

This is the third year veterans have come out to Metz Elementary School, and the History Channel sponsors the program. Not only were they in a big group setting during the morning, but they also got some one-on-one time with the veterans.

Iraq veteran Sherman Weeks spent some time answering questions with students in a fourth-grade class.

"They ask us questions you wouldn't even imagine like, 'What is your dog's name?' and 'Did you jump out of a helicopter or airplane?" said Weeks.

But the most important message these veterans said they hope to get across is simple.

"People have gone ahead of them to give them the freedom they have today, and they enjoy what they have," said Weeks.