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By LAURA L. HUTCHISON

Parading through the hallways of a Spotsylvania County elementary school yesterday, some brave and tough men and women were reduced to tears.

Students, faculty and staff at Cedar Forest Elementary School honored active-duty military and veterans yesterday during their annual Veterans Day celebration.

This was the first year, though, for the parade of heroes, led by retired Air Force Col. and School Board Chairman Gil Seaux. Students lined the halls, waving flags and holding signs with messages such as "Thanks for saving our lives," "Thank you for going in war," and "We appreciate what you do."

The service members and veterans paraded to claps, stomps, cheers and high-fives. They wore fatigues and boots, dress uniforms and shiny shoes. Many sported blue or black baseball caps denoting their service in wars long past.

Army veteran Rick Renedo marched by, proudly holding the hands of his twin sons, Ryan and Wyatt, both third-graders.

"I was proud to be a part of the ceremony," Renedo said.

And the boys were proud of their dad.

"He was really brave," Wyatt said.

"He risked his life for our country," Ryan added.

Lakesha and Michael Johnson are the parents of fourth-grader Xavier. The couple, both active-duty Air Force, attended last year's Veterans Day program, but only mom could make it this year.

"I felt such a sense of pride walking through the halls," she said. "I'm kind of teary-eyed right now."

Mike Hodgkiss also got emotional. A Navy veteran, he attended with his granddaughter, third-grader Racheal Longs, as well as his daughter, Bekka, and son-in-law, Brian, an Army veteran.

"It's nice to see the kids recognize the contribution of veterans, especially in today's world," he said. "That didn't happen for us when I was younger."

Cedar Forest Principal David Strawn said the Veterans Day event is very important to him and Assistant Principal Kim Kirtner, as well as the entire Cedar Forest community.

Strawn's father, David Strawn Sr., was an Army veteran of World War II.

"Like many World War II veterans, he never talked much about his service. He just said, 'Son, I did what I had to do,'" Strawn said. "It was a simple statement, but also a very powerful statement. We want you to be seen and heard today. We want the children to see you and show their appreciation."

Yesterday's program included a breakfast, courtesy of Fairview at River Club Church. It also featured the first performance of Cedar Forest's fifth-grade chorus, which sang "America the Beautiful" and "You Are Our Heroes."

Several veterans visited classrooms to talk about their military service.

Don Longava served in the Army's 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry during the Vietnam war. His granddaughter, Abbey Conroy, is a first-grader at Cedar Forest.

Longava sought out Strawn at the conclusion of the morning's events.

"It's been 42 years since I served in Vietnam," the veteran told the principal. "It's the most wonderful thing I've ever seen in my life. Forty-two years, and I never had a reception like this."

Laura L. Hutchison: 540/374-5485
Email: lhutchison@freelancestar.com