Manatee students celebrate Veterans Day early

"It's exciting and I'm grateful we have our freedoms," Scott said, smiling.

An event took place inside the school cafeteria to celebrate Veterans Day -- students don't attend public schools on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Some 300 third- to eighth-graders gave giant postcards of thanks to veterans Robert Ullrich and Michael Viechec, both from Naples Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7369, while the former soldiers handed the Collier County school an American flag.

Social studies teacher Robert Hamilton reminded the youngsters that people put their lives at stake so the students could practice such ideals as freedom of speech -- the freedom to complain about such matters as the school's dress code.

"Veterans aren't necessarily people of the past," Hamilton told the assembly, while introducing the two speakers.

Viechec, 81, said he could remember being the students' age and hearing from World War I veterans at school.

"You are all Americans because you believe in something," said Viechec, who served 210 combat days in Europe during World War II. "You're the up-and-coming future of America. . . Americans don't give up or quit."

Ullrich, 60, explained he'd been drafted into the Vietnam War, where he'd served in the military police.

"I learned a lot of valuable lessons," he said. "You learn about self-discipline and working with others."

Near the front, eighth-graders Glenisse Gonzalez and Jessica Valdes listened with interest.

"They gave us freedom," Jessica, 13, said. "We wrote thank you cards to celebrate."

Added Glenisse, 15: "It's special because they protected us."

In the end, eighth-grader Winfred Scott played "Taps" before his peers.

Two former soldiers stood in salute, and from the sidelines, the youngster's mom recorded the moment.

"The really deserve our thanks," Paula Scott said.