FISK -- Area veterans were honored Wednesday afternoon during Fisk Elementary and Middle School's annual Veterans Day assembly with a thunderous round of applause and standing ovation from hundreds of students.
"It brings me to tears when I think about it," Army veteran Floyd Bell said following the ceremony.
Bell was one of 13 veterans honored during the ceremony in front of his grandson, Landon Ham, and great-grandson, Benjamin Floyd Ham.
Once returning home from serving overseas in Korea with his twin brother, Bell said he did not realize what it meant to his father to have his two sons return home until years later after having his own children.
Bell said he would do the experience over again, but hopes his grandchildren and great-grandchildren never have to go through a deployment.
"You don't think about it when serving how great it is until after," he said.
Cake was served for all veterans following the student-led assembly by student council members in fifth through eighth grade, featuring patriotic music from the 7th-8th grade choir and a video.
Army veteran Jerry Bruce sat with his fourth grade grandson Keaton Hicks enjoying cake after shaking hands with a packed gym of students.
"I was glad to see my grandpa honored today," Hicks said. "He has told me stories from the Army and it's pretty cool."
Bruce said he enjoyed the annual program hosted by the Fisk students and thought they do a good job each year.
"It's an honor to be here and recognized," he said.
Army veteran Amanda Warrick attended the ceremony for the first time this year and was recognized in front of her fifth and sixth grade daughters Kalina and Savanah Warrick.
"It was an honor, emotional and I cried like a baby during the video," she said.
Warrick's daughters said it felt good to see their mother honored in front of their friends and the entire school.
"All our friends gave her a hug," Savanah said.
Warrick served in the Army from 2003-2012 and Kalina and Savanah both agreed they would not like their mom being away.
"The students did a really good job," Amanda said. "It was very respectful and I know the hard work of putting on a ceremony. I appreciate the students and staff and am very thankful and blessed my girls get to go to school here."
Fisk Principal Leean Mann said the annual Veterans Day ceremony is her favorite activity of the year.
"I love that it's student led and it's so emotional," she said. "I think it's very important to honor all veterans."