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EDEN — The posters carried by Draper Elementary School students Wednesday morning in honor of Veterans Day bore different words and images.

“Bless the USA.”

“What Would We Do Without Veterans?”

“Veterans Are Great. Thank You For Keeping Us Safe.”

Some of the posters included photographs of loved ones. Others showed pictures of soldiers that had been drawn and colored.

But they all sent the same message: Draper students appreciate veterans.

During the school’s eighth annual Veterans Day parade, students made the short walk from their school on East Stadium Drive to Veterans Park carrying the posters and mini flags.

Classes of kindergartners through fifth-graders gathered to honor veterans in attendance with songs and poems.

The ceremony was brief, but indicative of the influence that older Americans have on the younger generation.

Just ask Jake Smith. The 6-year-old carried around his neck a neatly crafted poster. When asked about it, Jake grinned and pointed at the handsome young man who adorned the poster — Draper’s custodian, U.S. Army veteran Jose Parris.

The two bonded one day when Jake made a comment about Parris’ bald head.

“This here is my best friend in the world,” Parris said, standing with Jake after the parade.

But it wasn’t just the young who marched in the parade. Joan Bailey did so, proudly carrying a poster with a picture of her son Timothy Bailey, who is in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Bailey said she always makes a point of approaching veterans to thank them.

“You wouldn’t believe the tears I’ve seen come,” she said.

Bailey retired from Draper a couple of years ago, but still returns for the parade.

“I’m proud of him and I’m proud of what he’s doing,” Bailey said of her son. “Long as I’m able, I’ll be back every year.”

Contact Jonnelle Davis at 373-7080 or jonnelle.davis@news-record.com