Students at Carbon Career & Technical Institute paid tribute to veterans during an assembly on Friday.

Members of the National Technical Honor Society organized the program.

Many students at CCTI have family members who served or are serving in the military. Also, many alumni of the school have joined the miliary services.

The Veterans Day ceremony featured members of the American Legion Post 304 in Jim Thorpe and 123 in Lansford.

Cynthia Cintron, a senior in the Cosmetology Department, sang the Star Spangled Banner and Christine LeClair conducted the invocation. Pledge of Allegiance was led by Gracie Heintzelman, a senior Marketing student.

Dave Reinbold, director of CCTI, recognized the veterans in attendance and also the veterans employed at the school. He encouraged the students to remember veterans, their family members and in particular those veterans who died in service to their country.

Jordyn Drumbore, senior in Cosmetology and Secretary of the National Technical Honor Society. recited the “Veterans Poem.”

Dan Dailey, Sgt. Major of the Army, U.S. Army Retired provided the keynote speech. He spoke about his family’s time in the military and the importance of honoring our veterans.

Julia Romankow, vice president of the National Technical Honor Society, said, “What veterans have given our country is beyond our power to fully repay, yet, today we recognize our debt to their honor. And on this national holiday, our hearts are filled with respect and gratitude for the veterans of the United States of America. From the administration, faculty, staff and students at CCTI, we thank you for your service to our nation.”

Michelle Allen, CCTI’s principal thanked all the veterans who were present for taking time out of their busy days to share their patriotism with the staff and students.

“Yearly, CCTI takes honor to recognize you and all the veterans and current military personnel serving our country in the US and around the world. We appreciate all your service to our country and have the utmost respect for our service members,” said Allen.

She then encouraged the students in saying “Students, please take this time to reflect and honor the heroes presenting today and don’t forget to honor those friends, family, and community members you know that have served our country. To the veterans: ‘thank you again for preserving our freedom and keeping us safe.’”

Veterans participating in the ceremony were honored with certificates and a small token for their service. They were then served brunch by the students in the Culinary Department at CCTI.