News : VS students honor those who served at annual Veterans Day assembly

VS Veterans Day: A salute to the military dead during the playing of 'Taps.'

Students honor the flag as the color guard leaves the gym at the end of the VS Veterans Day event.

The entire Vinton-Shellsburg student body filled the middle school gym to honor veterans during the annual Veterans Day ceremony Tuesday morning. High School students led the event, in which students from all three grade levels sang a variety of patriotic songs and tributes to those who have served in the military.

VS graduate Jared Parmater spoke about his military service, telling the students that one of the Americans who has inspired him the most was the Afghanistan-born translator who was at his side for several months in the Middle East. That man fled the country during the turmoil that led to the Soviet invasion in the late 70s and became an American citizen in 1981, the same year that Parmater was born.

See a 2010 holiday message from Parmater HERE.

See a photo of Parmater engaged in an operation in Afghanistan HERE.

See more photos of the Veterans Day ceremony HERE.