By CRISTINA JANNEY

Hays Post

Fifty veterans were invited to Roosevelt Elementary School on Thursday for a lunch with their young family members and a program.

All of the students at the school in some way participated in the program through decorations, serving food, leading in the Pledge of Allegiance or singing.

Students brought in pictures of family members who are veterans or active service personnel and posted them in a hallway. Paula Rice, Roosevelt principal, said the children have been reading the posters, and some of the littler children have even tried to stand and salute as they are waiting in line for lunch.

Rice served in the Army. She has family members who are veterans and in active service.

“I think this country was founded on tradition,” she said, “and when we don’t have the tradition and the tradition stops, we lose the values this country was originally founded on — honor, duty and service to country and good citizenship,” she said. “Being good, compassionate citizens to one another is an essential character trait for children of all ages. It is an important we do that as well as just understanding so many men and women over the last 200 years have lost their lives so we can have the freedoms we do.”

Rice said she hoped the veterans program has helped create a dialogue at home and at school amount the importance of military service.

Wayne Bollig, veteran, attended the program Thursday with two of his grandchildren. Bollig served in the Air Force during Vietnam.

“It’s great,” he said. “I love being with the kids. It is very special.”

Paul Kaiser, an Army MP, also served during Vietnam.

“It is an outstanding privilege to be here with my grandchildren,” he said. “I look forward to it every year.”