MARYSVILLE – Veterans appreciate being honored on Veterans Day.

But for Cy Hatch, he appreciates just as much that students learn what it takes to be a veteran.

“They are aware of what this is about,” he said. “The sacrifices that families have made and the commitment to this country.”

Hatch was attending the Veterans Day assembly at Marshall Elementary School in Marysville Thursday. He was in the Marines from 1971-91. He and other veterans who attended were supposed to have pictures they dug up at home placed in a slide show for the assembly, but technical problems forced it to be canceled.

Hatch said he has attended Veterans Day assemblies at other local schools, but came to Marshall this year because one of his granddaughters goes there. She was onstage with the chorus, which provided the entertainment.

Erik Eliason directed the choir, which sang a medley of the songs for Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine and Coast Guard. During each song, veterans stood up to be honored if they were part of that military family.

Sherie Sweeney, a secretary at the school, stood up for the Coast Guard song.

“Every year it brings me to tears,” she said of the assembly. “The kids are so serious.”

Dean Paur stood up for the Air Force song. He was in the service for 12 years, but never had to leave the states.

“I’m no hero,” he said. “I’m a tweener.”

Some students, including Dorothy Ross, who wore a uniform, talked about relatives in their families who were in the service. Hatch said they might not have known all that about their own family if they hadn’t done the research.

After Scout groups presented the colors to start the assembly, Principal Kelly Sheward welcomed the more than 750 people in attendance.

“This is a different kind of assembly,” she said. “It is to honor our veterans who served in our military. This isn’t about us. It’s to honor our guests.”

The opening number involved everyone there, as Eliason directed the chorus and audience in the “Star Spangled Banner.”