Northwestern Elementary School recently celebrated Veterans Day.

Cub Scout Pack 588 posted the colors and students who were members of several local Girl Scout Troops led The Pledge of Allegiance.

Fifth grade students wrote essays about what the flag meant to them.

Fourth grade students performed The Star-Spangled Banner, This Land is Your Land, and You’re a Grand Old Flag throughout the celebration.

Third grade students were asked to write letters to the veterans while Kindergarten, first and second grade students decorated the school lobby.

Many of the veterans in the community attended the celebration; including two guest speakers, retired U.S. Navy Aviation Electrician Mate Chief Joe Zeller and retired U.S. Navy Adm. David Keller.

Zeller introduced himself and thanked everyone for attending.

He explained he had difficulty with his eye sight and asked his friend Keller to read his speech for him.

Zeller’s speech began by stating he and his family lost everything in the Depression and that he had met Al Capone in his father’s bar.

To secure his future, Zeller obtained skills to work as an electrician.

Zeller was not only an electrician in the Navy, he was the mayor of Emmaus.

He flew as a gunner and was responsible for a fleet of airplanes.

Students learned from these guests that there are 23 million veterans in the United States and 2 million on active duty serving worldwide and the best war is one never fought.