BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio– On Veterans Day, students honored those who put their lives on the line for our country.

The halls lined with some of the youngest students, waving their flags for the Veterans walking through. A parade of heroes is what they called it. 

“My husband’s been through four deployments, so I know what it’s like to be a military wife and a military family raising kids, but then I also understand the sacrifice that the soldiers go through,” says military wife and teacher, Emily Tilton.

It’s the reason this military wife and teacher is honoring veterans the best way she knows how, by teaching students how to do it.

“This was kind of our way of giving back and saying thanks,” says Tilton.

Students at Edgewood Elementary put up notes and pictures for veterans, sang and played patriotic songs, and waved their flags, all while staff cooked up a warm breakfast.  Something that takes on a whole new meaning when you’ve been through the military and back.

“It means a lot to me; It means the young kids are learning about Veterans. We were in a construction outfit, so we did a lot of building,” says Army Veteran Steve Mignery, who was enjoying breakfast alongside his seven-year-old granddaughter.

“Maybe after today, you’ll know a little bit more, and that’s the big thing,” says Mignery.

The pair were among dozens of Veterans and their students getting a warm welcome and a patriotic thank you.