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NOV.10, 2025— The Pal-Mac Middle School Friday took time out to honor our nation's veterans during its annual pre-Veterans Day ceremony.

The ceremony saw more than two dozen local veterans from across the Armed Forces join students and staff in the gym for a special morning.

The event featured performances by the Pal-Mac Middle School Band and Con Brio, as well as the Towpath Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps, among others. There were also speeches from Air Force veteran and current District Facilities Secretary Wendy Curry, and Doug Wilcox, of the James R Hickey Post 120 in Palmyra.

Wilcox took time to also honor middle school teacher Colleen Sousa and her students for their efforts to welcome veterans as part of their annual Honor Flight effort back in September.

Among the veterans in attendance was Ernest Dusett, who served in the Air Force. Dusett, a Gates native, was on the recent Honor Flight trip when he received several letters from Pal-Mac students. He says he wrote back to every student who wrote to him.

"It meant a lot," Dusett said. "It brought back some memories."

The day was capped off by some more remarks, and a flag folding ceremony from Scout Troops 166/6166.

A full photo gallery from the ceremony can be found by clicking here, or the top image.