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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Hundreds of students gathered at Evans Middle School this afternoon to celebrate Veterans Day.

During the ceremony, a chorus of students sang patriotic songs and everyone listened to a veteran speak about his experiences.

Veterans from many different military branches attended the event.

Everyone even recognized a member of the 833rd Engineer Company of Ottumwa for the group’s recent service in Iraq.

One Korean Vet who served in the early fifties told KTVO that this day brings back old memories for him.

“It means the experience of a lifetime and it means a lot of fellows are not with us anymore that gave a lot to keep it free and to honor our country and really to honor our dead, the people that didn't come back. That's what it means to me," said Veteran Jack Parker.

Many schools across southeast Iowa honored veterans in a ceremony Tuesday.