A decade in the making -- hundreds of Brevard County elementary students took the school day to honor our military and veterans.

  • Take a Vet to School Day at Sea Park Elementary School
  • Veterans come to tell students stories of their service
  • Sea Park has hosted the day for 10 years

It's one of the largest Take a Vet to School Day celebrations in the country at Sea Park Elementary School in Satellite Beach -- now in its 10th year.

Some 120 veterans of all backgrounds were invited to speak to the students about their experiences and service.

The whole school was even treated to a really cool helicopter flyby too.

"Since they know they served for our freedom, we should respect them," said fourth grader Madison Soucheck, who got a living history lesson Friday. "I learned what they did, and about the Armed Forces."

Madison and her classmates were twice as fortunate this day.

Her teacher -- Susan Trejo -- is a 20-year Air Force vet, who proudly displays her uniforms in the classroom every day for her kids to see.

"They don't know what it's like, because so many of them don't have veterans in their family," Trejo said.

Trejo's mission is to teach her children school lessons, but also educate them in this pro-military environment.

"They are in awe of what we've gone through in all our years in the military," she said.

"Our school respects them because they saved us," said Madison.

The 10th annual Take a Vet to School Day was sponsored by the History Channel, and Spectrum, parent company of Spectrum News 13.