West Islip students consider Veterans' Day a true holiday to be acknowledged. Oquenock Elementary School kindergartener Sara Tourigny perhaps summed it up best when she said, "Veterans protected the country so I can see the flag everyday."

Sara is pictured with Principal Dawn Morrison, Nick Siano (left) and Andrew Brennan. The school was decorated with banners and flags as the children studied the meaning of Veterans' Day, which began after World War I.

In a letter to parents, Morrison wrote, "...we are reminded that the defense of freedom comes with great loss and sacrifice."

The children, all wearing red, white and blue, have stickers on their shirts and jackets that state "I dressed for our veterans."