Westridge Elementary Students Thank Veterans in Song

Fifth-graders from Westridge Elementary School in West Des Moines wove their way through veterans while bouncing from one exhibit to another Friday at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at  in Johnston 

For the second year, the Westridge fifth-grade class made the trip to the museum to sing to veterans, said music teacher Nancy Hartsock.

"This is the 12th year that we've had a concert," she said. "We started in 2000 after we had prepared a medley of patriotic songs. So we got in touch with the Veterans Hospital. The idea is to take it to the veterans, not to make them come to us."

John Phillips, 88 and a World War II veteran, complimented the students on their performance.

"This was great, those kids did a nice job," he said.

The experience serves as a great learning experience for the students, Hartsock said.

"This year we started with the students seeing the Vietnam Wall at the Resthaven Cemetery in Des Moines," she said. "Every year is different. The theme this year is 11/11/11. We have one song with six medleys, it covers all the branches of the armed forces, then we have five songs, so we are saying that we have 11 songs."

The trip also affords the students the chance to explore the museum.

"We really appreciate the veterans, this is such a small gesture we can give back and how grateful we are to have people that give their time and service to our country."