Tatum Elementary students greet veterans attending the flag-raising ceremony with thank-you cards Tuesday, Nov. 11. After the ceremony, area veterans enjoyed a complimentary breakfast at Farmersville High School before a special program in the FHS arena.

Farmersville ISD students and staff held ceremonies throughout the district Tuesday, Nov. 11, in honor of Veterans Day.

The day began at Tatum Elementary with a flag-raising ceremony, where students presented handmade cards to veterans in attendance. Grade levels gathered outdoors to perform patriotic songs as classes surrounded the flagpole.

After the ceremony, veterans were invited to a complimentary breakfast at Farmersville High School. Students from both the junior high and high school helped direct guests and serve the meal.

The program continued in the main gym, where veterans were welcomed with a standing ovation from students and staff. Principal David Warren opened the ceremony by reviewing the origins of Veterans Day in the United States.

Thirty-three veterans and family members were recognized on the arena floor. Warren also read the names of current FHS staff members and their relatives who have served in the military.

Performances from the Farmersville High School Band and Choir highlighted the morning’s program. The band played “The Coast Guard March” and “America the Beautiful,” each met with applause from the audience. The choir performed “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” a long-standing tradition at the annual event, as well as a salute to each military branch. Students carrying flags for the Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force entered the arena as veterans stood during their branch’s theme.

Guest speaker Kyle Bellue, Collin College executive dean and a retired U.S. Air Force officer, addressed the audience. Bellue, a Clearlake High School graduate and former member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, served 28 years in the Air Force with multiple deployments to Iraq. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2021 and now oversees campus operations for the college.

Bellue shared an early-career experience in which he witnessed a senior officer handling a menial task. The moment, he said, taught him humility and purpose.

“As long as you know who you are, no job is beneath you,” Bellue said. He added that throughout his service he “saw hundreds of men and women doing their job to complete the mission.” Every veteran, he said, “has a story to tell.” Bellue encouraged attendees to “do more than thank a veteran — get involved.”

Following his remarks, a video explained the history and significance of Veterans Day. A bell ceremony honored fallen soldiers, with an FHS student reading each name as a single bell sounded. The FHS Band then played “Taps.”

Misty Wiebold of the Farmersville Historical Society spoke about the legacy of Audie Murphy and the history of “Audie Murphy Day,” held annually in Farmersville. The next observance is scheduled for June 20, 2026.

To close the ceremony, “Wreaths Across America” co-coordinators Billie Goldstein and Tonya Fox invited attendees to take part in the Dec. 13 wreath-laying event at 11 a.m. The national project places nearly 3 million wreaths on veterans’ graves each year. Goldstein reminded the audience of the sacrifices veterans make, repeating, “Freedom is not free!”

Warren ended the program by thanking guests for attending and reaffirming that veterans’ service will never be forgotten in Farmersville ISD.

By Cole McClendon

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