GEORGETOWN – Students and staff members at the Georgetown Elementary School gathered Wednesday morning to hold their 9th Annual Veterans Day Appreciation Program.

The program – which originally began as a small recognition ceremony followed by coffee and doughnuts nearly a decade ago – has grown into a production of sorts, including vocal performances, poetry readings and a full breakfast for attending veterans.

Honored at this year’s gathering were Jeani Wilcox, Tim Evans, Carl Goodrich and Gordan Kupiec of Georgetown; Bill Mandeville, Logan MacFarland, John Stewart, Jack Conklin, Hugh Comfort and William Waltz of South Otselic; Tom W. King and Tom E. King of Sherburne; Lisa Haitian of Sheds; Joseph Day of Smyrna; Ossie Myers of Otselic; Ron Palmer of Norwich; Ken Sheldon of McDonough and Mike Sheldon of Greene.

The 18 assembled veterans represented nearly every branch of the United States military and each took a brief moment to describe to students their individual military affiliations and where they had served.

Georgetown Elementary fifth and sixth grade science teacher Judith Smith said the annual event is all about honoring and showing respect to area veterans, in addition to the educational value it holds for students.