STAFFORD — It was a grand day to be a Veteran in Stafford County.
Students at Stafford USD 349 schools gathered to learn about Veterans and paid tribute to those who have served our country.
Stafford teacher Theresa Lowther helped coordinate the school tribute for Stafford County Veterans, which was split into an elementary age group and a middle school and high school gathering Tuesday afternoon.
The afternoon’s highlight was when the anthems of each military service was played while members of that military group were recognized.
The second highlight came when the youngest Veteran Bethany Pike, 23, and the oldest Veteran Jay Farney, 90, cut a celebration cake together.
A list of Stafford County residents who served their country in Vietnam was read and those Veterans who were present were recognized.
Stafford County Veterans who served in Vietnam were Norman Sanders, Bill Ogden, Fred Rhodes, George Sanders, Gil Sosa, Jerry Steinman, Dennis Dye, Steve Hartnett, Steve Kubin, John Marrs, Dennis Mayer, Byron McNickle, James Taylor, Duane Westfahl and Marvin Suedekum.
Elva Sherrill, 88, was recognized as a mother of a Veteran, Amos (A.C.) Sherrill, who died in Vietnam as a Air Force paratrooper. Vietnam Veterans John Street and Boyd Masten have also died since serving their country.
Quilt designer Alda Hildebrand presented hand-crafted quilts to Veterans Dennis Dye and Steve Hartnett.
Lowther’s most innovative idea was to ask the elementary school students questions to see whether they knew about Veterans and their history. The students cheered each time they got an answer correct.
Some facts they learned — Veterans does not carry an apostrophe. Veterans are Americans who served their country, not those who died. Memorial Day is dedicated to those who died in military service. Women who serve their country are also Veterans.  The military groups that comprise Veterans are the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Each military group protects a particular part of the world. Poppies are used to celebrate Veterans. A high school diploma is required to serve in the military.  
Veterans Day used to be called Armistice Day, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918 at 11 a.m.
A Kansan, Al King, formed a committee to broaden the scope and rename Armistice Day. In 1953, Emporia celebrated Veterans Day. Congressman Ed Rees proposed the idea of changing Armistice Day to President Dwight Eisenhower. In May 1954, Eisenhower formally changed Nov. 11 to Veterans Day.