Although rain prevented the students and veterans from parading through downtown Brooks, they took their floats, banners and flags inside and marched around the school. Even with the rain, school officials deem their traditional Veteran's Day celebration a success.

"I thought it was very successful," says teacher and event organizer Laurie Byars. "The children enjoyed it so much. It is so nice to see that the children have an understanding of what Veteran's Day is all about."

Students spent the last several weeks studying about veterans and Veteran's Day in preparation for the annual celebration. All grade levels conducted classroom activities leading up to the event so that students would have a clear understanding about why Veteran's Day is an important holiday.

The day's festivities wound up with a community picnic at the school. Performances by dancer Lydia Stevens, the Brooks United Methodist Church Choir, Chord Busters and Music Alive entertained picnic goers.

This year's celebration marked the fourth year for the picnic and third for the parade. The Veteran's Day celebration tradition started when former principal Harry Sweatman, a veteran who served one tour of duty in Vietnam, wanted to do something to honor the community's veterans. In 2000, the school organized the first community picnic. It was such a success that the school added the parade in 2001.