News : A salute to Pearl Harbor; teacher leads annual memorial

Veterans salute as Taps is played to honor those who died at Pearl Harbor.

Coloring books helped children understand the role of women during World War II.

Veterans joined Vinton-Shellsurg Middle School History Teacher Alex Vasquez and several students for the annual Pearl Harbor Memorial Saturday in the VSMS library.

Mr. Vasquez briefly summarized the events leading up to the beginning of World War II, and shared some details of the attack. A moment of silence honored those who died that day, including the 1,117 sailors who were lost on the USS Arizona.

The teacher has led this annual event each Dec. 7 for the past several years. Students help by playing and singing the Star Spangled Banner and by reading officers' reports praising the service personnel for the way they responded to the events of Dec. 7, 1941.

A replica of the U.S.S. Arizona is on display during these annual ceremonies, along other World War II memorabilia and even a piece of iron from the Arizona.

This year, the event included a video of how a large gun from the Arizona was restored for placement in a memorial in Arizona.

See one video of that project below:

[VIDEO]