Students at Riverbend Elementary continued to celebrate Veterans Day with a performance they call "Celebrate America."

The children performed twice Thursday, singing five patriotic songs and giving speeches they wrote themselves, thanking veterans for their services in current and past wars.

Local vets came out to see the performance, including members of the school's staff.

Event organizer Kari Carpenter says this Veterans Day had special meaning to the school.

"It's an extra special event here at Riverbend because we have a PE teacher who is in the Army Reserves and we just found out that he has been called to duty. So it's been a special, emotional day for all of us here," says Carpenter.

Physical education teacher Heath Phillips is scheduled to leave for Iraq in January.