Band teacher Nicole Prewett directs eighth graders performing "America the Beautiful" for their community Nov. 9 at Falcon Middle School in Falcon School District 49. The school's students, families and faculty had gathered for an early tribute to Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Tom Tudor, who served guard duty form 1969-1970 at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington, Va., talked about military service and sacrifice. Administrative secretary Karen Hobson coordinated the day's honors. While closing the event, Hobson asked the children of servicemembers to stand and be recognized – students with a parent who's deployed, and then those with a parent on active duty status. She asked all students to write "thank you" cards for troops overseas and veterans in their community.