Colonel Penny Bailey poses with fellow Air Force veteran Russell Banks, fifth-grader Aaron Decker’s grandfather, at the annual LMS Veterans’ Day Program.

Veterans Day means more to those in the City of Leeds. Known as the City of Valor, Leeds is home to three Medal of Honor winners.

Honoring and celebrating the accomplishments of those Medal of Honor recipients as well as all veterans, Leeds Middle School (LMS) held its annual Veterans Day Program.

“This program is dedicated to the men and women who uphold the highest ideals of the United States,” said LMS Principal Dr. Jason Baker.

Embedded in historical roots, Veterans Day was once called Armistice Day due to the temporary halt of hostilities between the allied nations and Germany when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919.

This cease-fire went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Therefore, November 11, 1918 was considered the end of “the war to end all wars.”

Initially known as Armistice Day (a day dedicated to world peace), this day was set aside to primarily honor veterans of World War I.

Once war broke out again, the Act of 1938 was amended, making the official name, Veterans Day, as of June 1, 1954.

After much debate and many years of celebrating on various days, Veterans Day was once again celebrated on November 11, since 1978.

Veterans Day is, “A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”

Taking part in the festivities at LMS, the band played patriotic music such as the National Anthem and members of the National Honor Society spoke about the history of Veterans Day.

The highlights of the program were when LMS students introduced their veteran family members and keynote speaker Colonel Penny Bailey.

“This is my favorite time of the program,” said Baker.

Students presented parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends as veterans they knew.

From all military forces and varying ranks, these men and women were thanked for serving their country.

Seventh grade student and LMS band trombone player Nick Bolton was accompanied by his dad, Dennis, who served in the U.S. Army and his grandfather, James Storey, who served in the U.S. Marine Corp.

When asked if he is considering one day joining the military, Nick said yes.

“I think I might go into the Air Force,” said Nick. “It’s pretty cool having a dad and granddad serving our country and defending our freedoms.”

Leeds graduate and Colonel in the United States Air Force Penny Bailey wanted to make sure LMS students knew exactly why they should honor veterans.

“What an honor it is to serve this country and her honorable people,” Bailey said. “I want you all to understand what a veteran is. You’re in the company of some real American heroes who sacrificed by leaving their home and families to serve this great country or ours.”

Continuing, Bailey told the middle school audience that a veteran is someone who has served them and this country.

“You have a great heritage here, having three Medal of Honor winners for a city this size. No other city has that distinction,” said Bailey. “That’s something to be proud of.”

Asking students to thank those in uniform, Bailey read aloud a quote from Elmer Davis.

“This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”