Army veteran Dexter Simmons said he looks forward to coming to Southside each Veterans Day.

Every year, the Niles school puts on a special Veterans Day lunch program designed to honor and recognize the men and women who serve or have served the United States in the armed forces.

Veterans receive a free meal prepared by the staff, gifts and heartfelt thanks from each student at the school.

“It’s just amazing what they do here for us,” said Simmons, a Niles resident who served as an Army paratrooper from 1983-86 and remained in the Army reserves from 1986-89. “You can really tell they understand what Veterans Day is all about.”

Navy Veteran Bob Ahrens, also of Niles, shared that sentiment.

“This is the highlight of my day too,” he said.

Twenty-seven veterans attended Tuesday’s ceremony. A few were moved to tears at times, including Ahrens when he spoke of his father, a World War II veteran, who passed away a couple years ago.

“Thank God we had him,” said Ahrens, adding that we all should remember what World War II veterans did to preserve our freedoms.

Army veteran Michael Waldron recently lost his father, a veteran of World War II. Waldron asked all World War II veterans in the audience to stand.

Only one person did.

“We are losing more and more everyday,” he said. “We owe them a great deal.”

Several students stepped up to the microphone to express what Veterans Day means to them.

Kyle Mayo thanked the veterans for fighting to keep us safe.

“I appreciate all the sacrifices you made for me,” he said. “You are my hero.”

Ashley DeRossi also thanked them for their service.

“My life is a lot better because of you being willing to fight for our freedom,” she said.

Tuesday’s celebration was the seventh for the school, which is devoted to teaching students with special needs.