Braden River Middle honors veterans

Jonathan Ray played "Taps" to end the ceremony.

Alex Williams stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

U.S. Marine veteran Hurb Thompson, left, is a survivor or Iwo Jima.

Nearly 1,000 students watched the hour-long ceremony.

Danielle Rouf, right, accepts her first-place award in the veterans essay contest.

Principal Randy Petrilla introduces the guest speaker.

Eighth-grade student Dasia Parker sang with the choir.

As part of the ceremony, students unveiled the newest panel of the Veterans Walk of Honor.

Col. Bob Lewis assisted with the flag-raising ceremony.

Katie Lang, 13, dressed patriotically for the occasion.

Sarah Keesler performed "America the Beautiful" with the eighth grade orchestra.

The Lakewood Ranch High School JROTC helped open the ceremony with a presentation of the colors.

Jessie Chiang, 12, has been playing the violin since she was 4 years old.

Manatee County Commissioner and U.S. Air Force veteran Larry Bustle shared with students ways they could honor veterans.

Carol Block and his wife Mary Ann Maus, both Korean War veterans, got first row seats for the ceremony.

Miya Yawn, 12, and Sara Vega, 14, proudly sang "America!" with the seventh and eighth grade chorus.