The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

The Naselle/Grays River Valley School District honored local veterans and announced the winners of two essay contests at their annual Veterans Day Assembly last Thursday.

Diana Zimmerman

Young NGRVSD students sang a lively version of This Land is Your Land before launching into Free Like Me.

Grace Hunt wrote about the struggle for equality in her winning essay for the Patriots Pen contest and Jaclyn Steenerson read her winning essay for the Voice of Democracy contest.

"But to me we are the everlasting America, who is ready to take on any bullet that is shot our way," Steenerson read.

One young student, Corbin Johnson, had approached Principal Quinn Donlon earlier in the day with a poem he had written, and it was quickly added to the program.

A big choir of little voices filled the gym as the elementary music classes entertained visitors and their older schoolmates with the songs "This Land is Your Land" and "Free Like Me."

As in years past, veterans stood at attention, one at a time, as Donlon and Justin Laine read the names and service records of all in attendance.

Afterwards, the students made their way back to their classrooms, and the veterans were invited to enjoy some refreshments in the commons.