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Annual Veterans Day Program Unites Community at HES

In observance of Veterans Day, all OCS schools and facilities are closed Tuesday, November 11, and schools have been active in celebrating this holiday to inspire honor and remembrance for all who have served.

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First-graders in varied red, white, and blue outfits standing on a choral riser wave American flags as they sing patriotic songs for a community gathering held on Friday, November 7, 2025, to celebrate Veterans Day.


On Friday, November 7, first-graders at Hillsborough Elementary School presented their school’s annual Veterans Day program. That morning, they rehearsed their program with their fellow students. In the afternoon, family members and honored guests joined for the official ceremony filled with patriotic songs and appreciation for all who have served in our nation’s armed forces.

Superintendent Dr. Danielle Jones, who served for four years in the United States Air Force, was invited to read portions of “The White Table,” by Margot Theis Raven. Everyone at HES reads this book as a way to learn about and appreciate America’s White Table tradition, started during the Vietnam War.
 

A student pushes a chair to the empty "White Table" for missing or fallen soldiers, as students sit on choral risers and watch and Superintendent Dr. Danielle Jones (at left) reads portions of the book "The White Table" in a Veterans Day ceremony held on Friday, November 7, 2025


Students brought out a table, white tablecloth, black napkin, slice of lemon, and other items to remember and honor all “the men and women who serve in America’s Armed Forces, especially those missing in action and those held prisoner of war.”

As the ceremony was closing, a student placed a white candle on the table “for peace, and finally a red rose in a vase tied with a red ribbon for the hope that all our missing will return someday.”
 

Students wearing red, white, and blue outfits on a choral riser watch their music teacher, Adam Canosa, who leads them in patriotic songs. The white table for missing or fallen soldiers is in the foreground as students perform during this community gathering on Friday, November 7, 2025.


Guests of honor all saluted as the Orange Middle School Chorus sang our National Anthem for the presentation of colors by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The program included songs like “This Land Is Your Land” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” as students followed their music teacher, Adam Canosa, and put their words into motion to show their pride in America and all our veterans.

At the heart of the ceremony, while the “Armed Forces Medley” played with the official song for each branch, veterans of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard were all invited to stand and receive handwritten cards with artwork from HES students to say, “Thank you for your service!”
 

A first-grader reaches up to an order gentleman in the audience to give him a handwritten thank you card created to honor veterans, for a ceremony held at Hillsborough Elementary School on Friday, November 7. Family members and many others gathered are smiling as they remain seated around the gentleman, who stands to receive the gift.


We take this day as a holiday and invite all to join local celebrations to honor and remember all who have served in our nation’s military to protect our freedoms.

#orangecountyfirst #VeteransDay

The image shows a group of people, some holding drawings or artwork, gathered in what appears to be a community or public setting, with an American flag visible in the background.
A large group of young students, dressed in red and other festive attire, gathered on a stage for an annual Veterans Day program at Hillsborough Elementary School.
Two uniformed law enforcement officers stand in front of American and North Carolina flags, with a projection screen visible in the background.
A large group of young children, all dressed in red, sitting on a stage with a podium and American flag backdrop.
A group of people, some wearing patriotic attire, are gathered in what appears to be a school or community hall, with an American flag visible in the background.
A large crowd of people, both seated and standing, in a school or community hall setting, with a stage and decorations visible in the background.
A red sequined dress, a large red rose, and a table setting with a candle and salt and pepper shakers are the focal points of the image, set against a blurred background.
A crowd of enthusiastic children waving American flags against a dark background, creating a patriotic and celebratory atmosphere.
The image shows a large group of children on a stage, with a crowd of people seated in the background. The children are wearing colorful costumes and appear to be performing or participating in some kind of event or show.
A large group of children wearing red, white, and blue clothing are gathered on a stage, with a speaker standing at a podium in the foreground.

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