ORANGE - Students and staff at Race Brook School gathered to honor veterans during a very special recent assembly, school officials said in a statement.

"The veterans were very impressed with the warm welcoming and excellent attentive behavior of over 400 elementary students during the hour-long assembly," the statement said.

The majority of the attending veterans were relatives and friends of the school’s families.

The youngest to attend the assembly was 22 and a former graduate of Race Brook School, the statement said.

The oldest veteran was 91 and is having a book published, titled "My War, A Story Which Involves Horror and Humor," by Tech Sgt. Bob Swrisky.

The children sang well-rehearsed songs to pay tribute to the veterans, including the song “Proud of Our Veterans.”

"A vivid and impressive PowerPoint presentation on the allied invasion of Normandy during World War II was narrated by a guest veteran, the statement said.

The children also wrote "heartfelt poems of gratitude and handed them out to their guests during the assembly."

The veteran guests were further honored in the classrooms after the assembly where they had the opportunity to share their backgrounds in serving our country and answer questions for students, the statement said.

Many of the veterans shared treasured memorabilia of their service, including medals and scrapbook photos. The veteran guests had the opportunity to continue their conversations in a continental breakfast reception provided by the Student Council and held in the school’s library.

"The guests were very touched by the school’s efforts to acknowledge all of the veterans as patriots and heroes who showed courage and strength and made many sacrifices for the freedom of our country," the statement said.

The assembly and the activities afterwards were carefully planned and organized by the directors of the school’s Student Council: JoAnne Escandon and Pam Galatioto.

Editor's note: The information and photos in this post were provided wholly by Race Brook School