What better way to show gratitude than with a cupcake, decorated and frosted in red, white and blue?

The red roses were a nice touch too.

On the eve of Veterans Day, students and faculty of Friday Harbor Middle School took time out to pay tribute to a dozen local veterans and to recognize their years of collective military service as part of the school’s Veterans Assembly.

Organized by the school’s Quest Class, the afternoon assembly opened with a flag salute, presented by American Legion Post 163’s color guard, and Kira Sable singing of the National Anthem. Eighth-grader Jessica Erickson read a poem, entitled “The Veterans’ Dream.” Each veteran was presented with a single red rose, and Post 163 Commander Shannon Plummer and U.S. Army veteran Howard Schoenberger, who saw six years of active duty in World War II and in Korea, shared thoughts and remembrances about their years of military service.

And the cupcakes? They came later.

The event was one of two hosted by schools to honor America’s veterans.

Nov. 5, members of the American Legion gave a presentation at Friday Harbor Elementary School.

“We started out with the entire school in the parking lot to say the pledge of allegiance as the flag was raised after David Eden played ‘Reveille’ on the trumpet,” Krispi Staude wrote.

“The students then joined the vets in the gym for an assembly which included a PowerPoint movie about helping out veterans and a lesson in tri-folding the flag and what each fold stands for. They had four students help with the folding and it was really moving.”