Students at Loma Portal Elementary School got a chance to learn firsthand what military service means as part of National Take a Veteran to School Day on Nov. 10. Developed by The History Channel, the program is designed to link veterans with students in the community to help strengthen community ties and bring history to life in the classroom. “It was lovely. We had a really great turnout. We had about 30 to 35 veterans,” said April Dorman, a Loma Portal second-grade teacher. Dorman said the Army, Navy and Marine Corps were represented at the event, including two colonels and a Medal of Valor recipient. Dorman said the experience among the group included “one gentleman who had been in World War II, several vets who had served in the Korean War, several who had been in Iraq, [and] we had 15 active duty servicemen and women.” Gia Stuckey, whose two children attend Loma, volunteered at the event. “It allowed our children to understand why they got a day off,” Stuckey said. “I think it taught them a lot.” The event kicked off with a morning assembly during which local Cub Scout Pack 588 presented the colors as students, teachers and veterans recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Later, each class in grades kindergarten through 4 was given the opportunity to talk with veterans and ask questions, according to Stuckey. “Depending on the grade level, they had age-appropriate discussions about what service to country means,” said Stuckey. “We had some very, very interesting people there. We had one gentleman who was [retired Navy Chief Petty Officer] Jack Walker. He was actually at the flag-raising at Iwo Jima. “He was amazing. He had the students in the class that he was working in just enthralled,” she said. “The classroom teacher said it was like having a walking history in the classroom. She was blown away by how much he knew and how much he was able to share with the class.” To supplement the live history lessons from veterans, teachers also chose from grade-appropriate activities, curriculum and planning guides available on the History Channel’s website, according to Dorman. Dorman, whose father dedicated 30 years to military service and whose brother is presently active duty military, said the idea to include the program in this year’s curriculum came about last summer as she was surfing the Internet and read about it on The History Channel’s website. “I felt like it was something that would be valuable to our students and the community,” Dorman said. Dorman said she hopes to see the event continue in the future. “I would definitely like to make it an annual event,” Dorman said. “We had very positive feedback from the students, from the teachers and community.” For more information on National Take a Veteran to School Day, visit www.historychannel.com.