As Veterans Day nears, some Mount Vernon schoolchildren are remembering the men and women who serve the U.S.

Letting their soaring voices do the talking, students sang from the heart and waved small American flags during a ceremony Friday at Traphagen Elementary School. Some of the children have relatives who have served in the military.

"I think it's important because we need to respect them and show that we like what they did," said sixth-grader Jaden Youngs.

Fourth-grader Jayleen Padilla agreed. "They fought in wars for our freedom and our very lives," she said.

Parent Heidi Brown, who attended the ceremony along with school officials and other parents, said she felt touched by the outpouring of support for her fellow veterans. "I feel a little nostalgic and I'm grateful because veterans sometimes are forgotten heroes, and people don't really understand the sacrifices we make to serve this country."

Veterans Day is Tuesday, Nov. 11.