Patriotic songs were the order of the morning, as Immaculate Conception School children sang and presented essays about the heroism of military veterans.

The boys and girls from Immaculate Conception School are taught about the sacrifices so many men and women have made to defend their country. They prayed for those heroes, including members of their own family and those in their community, at a special morning mass on Friday morning.

Immaculate Conception School administrators each year host a special Veteran’s Day ceremony, and they don’t have to go very far. Immaculate Conception Church and School are only a few steps away from the Ottawa County Courthouse, where five years ago a new veterans outdoor walkway was constructed on the south side of the building, a beautiful memorial to all veterans and fallen soldiers.

The Veterans Day crowd at the Ottawa County Courthouse joined Immaculate Conception School students in singing patriotic songs. From left to right are Principal Margaret Drew, Music Teacher Gregory Fox and students Theo Koutsorelis and Bryn Gonzalez. (Photos by D’Arcy Patrick Egan)

The American flag is in the center, surrounded by the five service flags: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. There also are Ohio and Ottawa County flags on the outside of the walkway’s inner circle.

Under bright, blue skies on Friday morning, veterans, city and county officials and members of the community were invited to the special Veterans Day event.

Under the direction of Music Teacher Gregory Fox, the children and their audience sang patriotic songs. Declan Leneghan, Annaleise Gonya and Natalie Gerber were chosen to read their essays on those brave men and women.

It was the perfect introduction to a holiday weekend honoring our veterans.