Veterans and active-duty service members were celebrated with a program held by students at Jefferson Intermediate School in Pella Monday for Veterans Day.

From patriotic songs to essays written and read by students, to special recognition for each branch of the United States Military, the half hour event was held in front of a full crowd of veterans, their families, and community members.

Pella High School Acapella Show Choir students also performed at the event, and American Legion Post 89 presented and retired the colors, as well as answered questions from students about their military service. Full ceremony:

Also in the morning, the Pella Hy-Vee served 292 free meals to veterans, active service members, and their families to thank them for their service.

Later in the day, 5th graders at Pella Christian Grade School marched in formation to Fair Haven and the World War II memorial, where they interviewed veterans about their service and made tracings of names familiar to them on the outdoor memorial, with the names of World War II veterans who served from the Pella area.