By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – About 30 local military veterans received a heroes’ welcome at Alabaster’s Meadow View Elementary School on Nov. 6, as several groups of students performed a salute in honor of Veterans Day.

Students from MVES, Thompson High School and the University of Montevallo praised America’s military heroes during Meadow View’s annual Veterans Day program.

“We hope we have conveyed to you how honored we are to have you here today,” MVES choir director Dennis Jones told the veterans in attendance. “Thank you for your service to our country.”

The school held two Veterans Day ceremonies throughout the morning: One for visitors and military veterans and another for MVES students.

During the ceremony for veterans and visitors, the University of Montevallo Clarinet Choir performed “Washington Post” and the “Armed Forces Salute,” during which active or retired members of the armed forces stood when their branch’s theme was played.

Thompson High School’s Junior ROTC colorguard presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance, before the Meadow View Singers third-grade choir sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Proud of our Veterans,” “America the Beautiful,” “Let Freedom Ring,” “God Bless America” and “This is America.”

Between each song, several choir members took the microphone and gave a rundown of America’s military history before thanking veterans for their service to the United States.

Third-grade speakers were Tyler Armstead, Jedidiah Black, Carson Champion, Aubree Dotson, Kamari Farrington, Kelsey Galloway, Cameron Kennedy, Charlie Lowery, Blakely Moore, Monica Pettway, Rylan Pickett, Colby Prosser, Alexandria Stewart, Kaela Theuri, Giulia Wekesa and Sarah Paige Williams.