On Wednesday, November 8, Welsh Valley Middle School organized a special day of programming in preparation for and in honor of Veterans Day as the Dragons had the opportunity to hear first-hand from both active and retired military service members about their personal experiences in the armed forces.

The visiting Veterans who generously volunteered their time to speak at Welsh Valley were Marines Paul Hagerty, Ryan Klawansky and Jonny Walker; Navy Seabee Will Mulliken; Jamie Garcia, representing the Army; and Sergeant Dan Ervin of PA National Guard. Of the group, Sergeant Ervin is the only one still on active duty. Another one of the Dragons’ VIPs this day was Trish Shallenberger, who is the founder of A Soldier’s Hands, a volunteer-driven non-profit that delivers personalized care packages to servicemen and women that are sourced from US-based, family-owned businesses.

Topics covered throughout the day included the history and significance of Veterans Day; why Veterans volunteer for service and why it is important to maintain the armed forces; life experiences from during and after their service; and much more. Seventh and eighth grade students were able to host the veterans in their social studies classes while fifth and sixth graders participated in virtual information sessions and Q&As during their ninth period class.

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally designated as a day to celebrate and recognize the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In 1938, through an act of Congress, November 11th was made a legal holiday. In 1954, at the exhortation of the veterans' service organizations, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans.” On June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Do you want to celebrate Veterans Day, but aren't sure how? Here are some ideas:

• Thank a Veteran and his/her family for their sacrifice and service
• Attend a Veterans Day function in your own town
• Support local business that support Veterans
• Donate to Veteran-Focused Charity
• Fly a Flag (Correctly!)
• Take the time to talk with a Veteran about their life

To view a slideshow of photos from the day, click below!