After Air Force Maj. Myron Stamps attended Hickory Elementary’s Veterans Day celebration last year, the father of two students at the school was so impressed that he wanted to play a larger role.

So this year during the Nov. 11 program, Stamps served as the centerpiece of one of the school’s most moving and emotional tributes ever.

After a short speech in which he shared his experiences from his third tour in Afghanistan and commended the 100 veterans in attendance, Stamps presented an American flag to the school.

With every eye watching his every move, Stamps marched in full uniform to the words of “God Bless the USA.” After presenting the flag that flew over Afghanistan and Iraq on a C-17 aircraft on Sept. 11 to Hickory Principal Scott Collins, the students, teachers and parents erupted in applause.

“If that doesn’t make you proud to be an American, I don’t know what will,” Collins told the audience. “We will definitely place this flag in a prominent place in our school.”

For his part, Stamps, who was visiting his family while on leave, felt it was the least he could do for a school that did so much for him last Veterans Day.

“I got chill bumps from the time and effort put in to recognize us,” he said. “It makes you proud to be a veteran to come home and experience a celebration and recognition like this, because not all of these veterans received such support.”

Collins said that his school’s Veterans Day celebration, which has been held since Hickory Elementary opened in 2002, is his favorite day of the year.

In addition to Stamps’ speech and presentation, students recited poems and sang patriotic songs, and veterans got an opportunity to step up to a microphone to recognize their child or grandchild.

Collins said much importance is placed on Veterans Day so students never forget the sacrifices made by veterans.

“These people are the true heroes that we want our kids to know about and respect,” Collins said. "So often these kids’ heroes are LeBron James, Peyton Manning or other celebrities, but they need to understand the importance of these men and women sitting in our audience.

“I just hope these veterans feel a small part of the respect I have for them.”

Stamps, who returned to Afghanistan on Sunday to finish his tour of duty, is pleased to know his community supports and remembers what he and others are still doing overseas.

“Once the bullets stop and the war ends, people tend to forget, but having this one day set aside to honor and remember is so important and makes me and all the other veterans feel so special.”