The following Veterans Day essays written by Eagle View Elementary School students were contest winners. The students read them at a Veterans Day program Nov. 11 at the Jenkins VFW.

The Veterans who are our Heroes

By KAITLYN DENEAU

3-4 Multiage

Our heroes, the veterans, served our country in many great ways that made our country the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Those who died sacrificed their lives for ours. Now, we have rights to be free, and we may not worry, because our veterans will always be there for us, because these brave people are always standing by our side, to protect our country, and to protect our lives.

Honor these brave people, because without them, we would not be free. We would not be the only country that is great. We love these people. God bless America!

Our Heroes - the Veterans

By JAkOB OLSON

3-4 Multiage

Veterans are people who served in the war. They are heroes because they are risking their lives. They are fighting in the war so that everyone in the United States of America can have freedom. Right now there is a war going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. All of the wars are dangerous because people are dying, or getting severely hurt.

Veterans Day means to honor people who have died in the wars or are still fighting in the wars. They made it so we can be free, but it's also sad they died. It also means we can go to the National Cemeteries and put American Flags and flowers at the gravestones. Sme towns have parades to honor the Veterans. This year after Veterans Day I will go to the cemetery and look at all the flowers on the gravestones.

Thank a veteran

By RACHEL VOGES

Grade 2

I thank my great, great, grandpa for being a Veteran because he was trying to protect our country. He was not afraid to die. I also thank all of the other soldiers who stand united and help protect our country.

Did you know that more than 653,000 Americans have died from wars? If you want to see some people who died in wars then go to Washington D.C. and you will see the Wall. On the Wall you will see people's names from the Vietnam War who have served engraved on it. I hope you will think about that and thank a Veteran.

Thank a veteran

By LOLA RYSAVY

Grade 2

I want to thank my great, great grandpa. I never got to see him, but I would still like to thank him for everything he did for our country. I know he tried to see me but too bad he died before he saw me and I still love him any way. I guess he did not mind if he died. That is why I thank a veteran.

A Veteran

By BRITTA SANDELIN

Grade 3

What is a veteran? A veteran is a person who fought in the war. Some are dead now, they are on the big wall that is five hundred feet long. It's huge and black. It's in Washington D.C. where tons of people go to put flagsin the dirt by the big black wall. They put teddy bears in remberance of the people who died.

A veteran means to me that he or she is a good person who fought in the war for freedom, honor, dignity and pride. Thank a veteran for fighting for us and for freedom for Americans.