Morning Journal/Danielle Garner Community Liaison Administrator Jason Ray stands with Family Consumer Science Teacher Abigail Miller outside the Bulldog Cafe at the East Palestine High School.

EAST PALESTINE–The school district is uniting staff, students and teachers to honor veterans at 10 a.m. Nov. 11 with a “Reverse Parade.”

Veterans are encouraged to line up at the library from 9:15 until 9:30 a.m. to get their vehicles decorated by students in red, white and blue. Veterans will proceed along West Grant Street afterward.

Police and fire departments will lead local veterans from the public library along West Grant Street where students and staff will celebrate veterans by waving flags and providing them with treats from Bulldog Cafe.

Bulldog Cafe, run by Family Consumer Science Teacher Abigail Miller in coordination with students, will bake treats for veterans.

Miller anticipates providing students working with the Bulldog Cafe the opportunity to honor local veterans.

Bulldog Cafe teaches students skills in advertising, marketing, first aid and Serve Safe credentials.

Community Liaison Administrator Jason Ray said he believes teaching students to respect and honor veterans is important.

“It almost goes without saying that these are our true American heroes and we want our students here in the district to understand their past and their present,” Ray said.

The school district looks forward to celebrating veterans again.

“We thought it was important. We have involved the American Legion and the VFW and we have sent out letters to every veteran in town,” Ray explained.

Social studies teacher Laura Spanos brainstormed the idea of a reverse parade with English teacher Emily Randolph. After seeing a similar event done for seniors during the pandemic, both thought the event would honor veterans while being mindful of Covid.

“This is a great tradition in our town,” Spanos said.

Veterans who have not received a letter and would like to participate are invited to call the East Palestine School District at 330-426-9401. Veterans can also show up at the public library 45 minutes before the event.

Spanos described the district wide support for the reverse parade; the ninth-grade history class made cards via Canva software, elementary students will sing and recite the pledge, middle school students have contributed essays and art students have created images of poppies to commemorate the men and women who gave their lives for our country.

“Everybody has been involved they are being a real integral part of this,” Spanos remarked. “It just impresses upon them why we should honor our veterans, why we should salute them, why we should be so grateful to them.”

Spanos wants the event to reflect the idea of patriotism, honoring history and exceptionalism.

“I can personally be thankful to them for the rights that I have and that my students have,” Spanos said.