In anticipation of Veterans Day on Saturday, some Franklin County schools took the time to thank locals for their military service early.

Erving Elementary School

Reprising tradition, Erving Elementary School staff and students celebrated the military service of around two dozen veterans at a ceremony on Thursday morning.

The service members were escorted into the gymnasium single file by loved ones as interim Principal David Krane introduced them. Students then performed the national anthem before Krane took the podium to recite the state’s Veterans Day proclamation.

After, Jeff Neipp, president of Vermont Chapter 1 of the Rolling Thunder advocacy group, thanked Erving “for remembering our veterans.”

“We all went to faraway places … to keep our country safe so that we can enjoy the freedom that our Constitution provides,” Neipp, who served in the Army, said of veterans.

He then spoke specifically to the purpose of Rolling Thunder, which recognizes service members who never came home.

“We are the voice of the soldiers that remain missing,” Neipp said. “The empty chair at the kitchen table. We help the families of veterans when no one is there.”

An extended moment of silence followed Neipp’s speech. The quiet was broken by the strumming of a guitar chord, followed by the voices of student chorus members singing “The White Cliffs of Dover,” a hopeful World War II-era song composed in 1941 by Walter Kent to lyrics by Nat Burton. The ceremony then continued with a history of Veterans Day delivered by a group of sixth graders, followed by closing comments made by veterans.

“Who here likes to smile?” Army veteran Dan Hammock asked the kids in the audience.

Speaking on the children’s level, Hammock analogized a veteran to somebody with two pieces of candy who shares with somebody else. This, he said, is “service.” He encouraged the students to vocalize their gratitude when possible, given a parent’s permission to speak up to a stranger.

“If you say to that person wearing a hat, ‘Thank you for your service,’” he said, “you’ll make them smile.”

Sunderland Elementary School

While rain forced them inside for the first time in years, Sunderland Elementary School’s 15th consecutive Veterans Day ceremony brought the school and community together to recognize those who have served their country.

Gathered in the gymnasium, students listened to Principal Ben Barshefsky and guest speaker Kenneth Kushi, a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War. Kushi is also a longtime Sunderland resident and has served the town through a wide variety of departments and committees.

“We always feel so fortunate to do this ceremony year in and year out,” Barshefsky said.

Also joining the ceremony were the University of Massachusetts Amherst Color Guard, members of the Hale-Clapp Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3295 and representatives from the Westover Air Reserve Base.

Speaking to the students sitting on the gym floor, Kushi emphasized how little things like picking up after yourself or creating a bond with a classmate can go a long way toward helping them succeed.

“Always remember to be proud of your accomplishments, no matter how small,” Kushi said. “During my time in the Army, I learned how to work cooperatively with others. I recognized that we all come from different backgrounds and life experiences, and that it is important to take the time to get to know someone for whom you truly care.

“My main point is treat people like you yourself want to be treated,” he added.

Closing out the ceremony, students listened to a rendition of taps and sang “This Land is Your Land.”

Conway Grammar School

For the first time in several years, Conway Grammar School revived its Veterans Day ceremony Thursday morning with members of the Hale-Clapp Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3295, as well as numerous other veterans from the community.

The event was revitalized by instructional assistant Gayle Farrick, who wanted to bring the ceremony back after a few years of it not being held. She, as well as Principal Kristen Gordon, both said they want to continue the event in future years.

“I felt our school needed to do something for Veterans Day,” she said. “I wanted to bring the tradition of doing it back. I think it’s so important.”

Guest speaker and U.S. Navy veteran Roger Goshea spoke to students about why he joined the military, including his desire to travel and get valuable real-world skills, as well as to join something bigger than just him.

“Nobody can do everything alone,” he said. “By being part of a team, you learn to get along, even though you may have different beliefs.”

After the ceremony, which included several student performances, veterans joined the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade classes to chat with students and answer questions about their service. Questions ranged from simply “What was it like?” to “What was your favorite food in the military?” Veterans were then treated to lunch in the cafeteria.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081. Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.