Students welcome veterans during appreciation event at East Union Intermediate Center

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Students welcome veterans during appreciation event at East Union Intermediate Center

Joyce Hanz | Thursday, November 9, 2023 7:02 p.m.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

Army veteran Edward Soxman of Plum helps his granddaughter, 5th grader Natalie Soxman, assemble charity gift bags for hospitalized veterans on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, during a veterans appreciation event held at the East Union Intermediate Center in West Deer.

Veterans were the guest of honor Thursday during an appreciation event held at East Union Intermediate Center in West Deer.

About 40 veterans mingled with third, fourth and fifth graders during the gathering held in the school gymnasium.

Lonnie Long, a Navy veteran from Ford City, helped to pack veteran gift bags that will be donated to the Butler Veterans Administration hospital.

“It feels great,” Long said of the event. “It warms your heart.”

Students from East Union Intermediate Center in West Deer hosted a Veterans Thank You For Your Service event Thursday. ⁦@VNDNews⁩ ⁦@TribLIVE⁩ ⁦@deerlakessd⁩ pic.twitter.com/6FI8YFnnki

— Joyce Hanz (@hanz_joyce) November 9, 2023

The veterans were given an Honor Walk through the school, with students lining the halls waving pom-poms and cheering. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance and a student chorus sang several patriotic songs.

A honor wall program that had been videotaped earlier was played, and refreshments wrapped up the annual event.

The event was co-organized by East Union Intermediate teachers Lori Crawford and Maureen Hedglin.

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