NILES — The snow’s white sheen emphasized the red, white and blue of small American flags lining the entrance of Southside School, 1450 Silverbrook St., in Niles, Wednesday.

Once inside, its students, decked in red, white and blue shirts, hats and sunglasses, greeted guests, directing them to their gymnasium.

Inside the gym was Southside’s annual veteran luncheon, where 21 veterans ate a free lunch while students read poems and speeches about their service and patriotic songs were sung by Pastor Jeff Whittaker, of Michiana Christian Embassy.

School staff could not pinpoint an exact date that the luncheon began, only that it had happened for a long time. New principal Elise Sorensen said it was one of Southside’s biggest events, and despite renovations and new teachers and staff, the school came together to ensure the luncheon was as impactful as it was in years past.

A snow day Tuesday caused the event to be moved a day later. Yet, veterans and their family members still attended, filling many of the seats at the decorated tables that were encompassed by posters of different conflicts and wars U.S. soldiers fought in.

Each veteran received a coffee mug filled with candy and a binder filled with Southside students’ poems and speeches dedicated to them.

Eight students read their submissions aloud to guests and students over burgers, chicken, vegetables and dessert.

Mike Goldsburg said the veterans were his friends.

“If it wasn’t for all of you veterans, we wouldn’t be safe or free,” he said. “You are all heroes to me.”

Hailey Knight gave special thanks to her great-great-grandfather, Phil, for helping fix bomber airplanes while serving.

Derrick Sheldon, whose veteran grandfather was in attendance, read a poem by Cheryl Dyson that said all veterans, whether known or not, deserve to be honored by civilians.

Jake Winans shared his speech, titled “America the Big Brother,” where he thanked veterans for having looked after him.

“The world is like a family,” he said. “It has its trouble makers and its big brothers. It is the big brother’s job to keep the bad guys in check. The military is America’s way of doing that. The veterans are like the oldest brother who moved out, but he is still part of the family.”

Assistant Superintendent Donna Roark told guests that students at Southside and throughout the district were taught to realize the difference between real heroes, such as veterans, and those not, such as entertainers. Students learn this partially through three core values that are taught: respect, responsibility and resilience.

“There’s no greater role model than the heroes in this room, right now, to display those three attributes,” she said, speaking to the veterans.

Roark and Niles School Board President Dana Daniels were called up to the podium by Otis Aldrich, World War II veteran and Niles High School alumnus, during the event. He presented to them a 1945 Navy photo of himself from when he served to hang up to as a piece of district’s history.

Daniels and Roark both accepted it.

Aldrich said World War II vets like himself were quickly disappearing, making him all the more thankful to be alive and walking and thankful for events like Southside’s luncheon, which he has attended for years.

“I want to thank the kids and the school for putting on this delicious lunch every year,” he said.

Students returned Aldrich’s thanks by giving their guests a round of applause, handshakes and hugs.