It was the day before Veterans Day and more than 100 parents and students filled the tables in the King’s Grant Elementary School cafeteria for a special event: a Heroes Breakfast.

“This is an annual event,” said King’s Grant Assistant Principal Brandon Lugo. “It’s extremely important that we show our gratitude to our veterans and those who are currently serving, our servicemen and servicewomen, who does so much for our community and protect our country.

Every branch of the service was represented and students could barely contain their pride in their parents in attendance. Madera and Charley Mullins even drove six hours from North Carolina to share the day with their granddaughter as she sang in the school chorus.

Charley Mullins served nearly nine years in the navy and pointed out that his daughter was born at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital. He was touched by the tribute. “This is so good to be celebrating veterans,” he said. “It’s great that these children are learning this at an early age.”

As the special guests were enjoying their breakfasts, the school chorus sang the song, “You Are Our Heroes.” The participants were then recognized and presented with a certificate from the school Student Council Association.

“These servicemen and women, they’re truly part of our community,” Lugo continued. “We want to show them gratitude. We have a number of military-connected students here at King’s Grant. We want to make sure that we show them that we care about their families and we want to support them”