 members, veterans, and friends. Today here at Berlin Armenty School, we wish to honor those who have served and followed for our country. Today we honor Memorial Day. Memorial Day, which is observed next Monday, started as an event to honor Union soldiers who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women who died in any war or military action. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day and now Memorial Day used to be held on May 30th, regardless of the day of the week in which it fell. In 1968, the uniform holidays bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has officially been observed on the last Monday in May. For many of you, this upcoming three-day weekend marks the start of summer, a long weekend of fun and adventure. However, Memorial Day must be recognized and not taken for granted. Our ceremony today here at Berlin Elementary School is not a celebration. It is a solemn occasion for silently reflecting and honoring those brave men and women who have died for our country. Today you will hear songs and poems from students. When they are finished, we ask that you remain silent. Please do not clap. Please do not cheer. We ask instead that you think, listen to the words, and remember, at this time we're going to ask everybody to please stand as very VFW Post 790 will present the colors in the Pledge of Allegiance. Please be seated. At this time, Ms. Janice Gooden is going to come up and be the one to sit with kindergarten first and second graders. Hats off. Kindergarten first and second graders, please stand. Eileen Reynolds, Grant Ferrell, Zoe Hayes. St. Flag Songpole, by Nancy Bird Turner. We can count every star, and the red, blue, and light, how lovely they are. Floating high, floating wide, we can see it from far. Our flag, it's the flag. We can count every star. We now hear from Ariana Conny, Emery Sands, Calvin Winters, and Christian McForest, being a time-tree member, and have you all commended. It's time to remember, to honor and show our respect. For all men and women who give their lives to the country they thought to protect. Although we cannot picture all of their faces, nor recognize each person's name, we give thanks today for those brave soldiers when thought fought by our country they came. We now hear from Fort Pater's Emmeline Cloud, Sophie Young, and Jesse Bador, St. American Flag, by Erin Ryan. Red, white, and 13 stripes remind us of their past. The colonies so long ago, so thought they never last. And the stars although they've changed, for states both old and new. On a field of blue, they're 50 strong. A home for me and you. So wave your flag, and show your pride, and never let it fall. And remember while you pledge each day, with liberty and justice for all. At this time, Third Fort Pater's will be singing American Beautiful, accompanied by Janice. Also, Third Fort Pater's will stand. And Fourth Pater's, Carolina La Rosa, Lula Kilburn, Fifth Pater's, Ashley Nickel, John Stafford, meeting Unknown Soldiers by Roger Rubishaw. You need not ever know my name. This Unknown Soldier seeks no fame. I'm here to bring out fall from you. May our hearts see more than your view. America, we marched with pride we gave our lives. For you we died. How well we knew that time might come when life could sound that final drum. Please think of us as life moves on. We try so hard to that last dawn. Do let our spirit fill the land, pass treasured freedom hand by hand. God bless this country with such love. Hold in your heart abundance of. And when you stand before my grave, think of not one but each who gave. We'll now hear from Fifth graders. Four winners. Eames McAlister, Abner Farrell, presiding Inflander's Field by John McFrey. In Flander's Fields, the poppies blow. Between the crosses, row on row. That marker place, and in the sky, the larks still bravely singing fly. Scares her to mid the guns below. We are the dead short days ago. We lived, felt dawn, so sensed that glow. Loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flander's Field. Take up our quarrel with the foe. To you from failing hands we throw. A torch for yours to hold it high. If you break faith with us who die. We shall not sleep though poppies grow. In Flander's Fields. We'll now hear from Sixth graders, Emily and Rocha, Kenneth Rousseau, Lydia Haggett, and Eames the Frazier. We think freedom is not free, like Ellie Strong. I saw the flag pass by one day. It fluttered in the breeze. A young marine slew it, and then he stood at ease. I looked at him in uniform. So young, so tall, so proud. With haircut square and eyes alert, he'd stand out in any crowd. I wondered, how many men like him had fallen through the years? How many died on foreign soil? How many mother's tears? How many planes had been shot down? How many died at sea? How many foxholes were soldier's graves? No, freedom is not free. I heard the sounds of taps one night when everything was still. I listened to the bugler play. I felt I stood in chill. I wondered just how many times the taps had meant amen. When I flagged, I draped the coffin of a brother or a friend. I thought of all the children of the mothers and the wives of father, sons, and husbands with interrupted lives. I thought about a graveyard at the bottom of the sea of unmarked graves in Arlington. No, freedom is not free. At this time, Fifth and Sixth graders, please stand. They will be singing, This land is your land, accompanied by Mrs. Clay. Fifth and Sixth graders, give you turn and face our guests. We're here from Sixth grader Grace Hagerstead, bringing a daddy bird address. That nation, or any nation, so conceived or so dedicated, cannot be done. We are met on a great battlefields that world. We have to come to dedicate a portion of that field. As a final resting place, we cannot dedicate, we cannot follow this ground. The great men, living and dead, Really today, when the Monday comes, take a moment to remember, as our very GFW post 790, retire the colors.