Flags are flying at half staff Friday across the country in honor of the shooting victims at Fort Hood in Texas after after a shooting spree Thursday.
As the military gunman remains on a ventilator at a Texas hospital, top- ranking military officials are sorting out what prompted the shooting rampage.
An Army psychiatrist due to be deployed to Afghanistan is accused of opening fire on his fellow soldiers, killing 13 people and wounding 30 others.
The shooting at Fort Hood was on the minds of many in the military and veterans at a special ceremony Friday afternoon at an elementary school in Lackawanna County.
Friday marked the second annual Veterans Day celebration at Mid-Valley Elementary in Throop.
A motorcade made its way through throngs of excited students holding patriotic signs.
"I'm really proud because I'm just glad I have somebody in my family who served in the Army," said fourth grader John Robbins.
Inside the school the ceremony continued with a color guard and bagpipes along with members of the armed services and many veterans.
Overshadowing the event was the mass shootings at Fort Hood, Texas.
Army veteran George Atkins still can't believe the news. "I was absolutely floored. I couldn't believe a man in his position being an officer and a gentleman could do such a thing to another American, a fighting man or a woman," Atkins said.
Angelica Harris serves in the Navy Reserves. "That it happened here, it's just a sickening feeling that we are losing soldiers here as well as overseas," Harris said.
Outside the school the flag flies at half staff, a somber reminder of the lives lost in Texas.
"It's a terrible tragedy, so close to Veterans Day and I would just like to say to all of the families my heart and prayers are with them all," said Navy Reservist Jake Delguerico.
As the military gunman remains on a ventilator at a Texas hospital, top- ranking military officials are sorting out what prompted the shooting rampage.
An Army psychiatrist due to be deployed to Afghanistan is accused of opening fire on his fellow soldiers, killing 13 people and wounding 30 others.
The shooting at Fort Hood was on the minds of many in the military and veterans at a special ceremony Friday afternoon at an elementary school in Lackawanna County.
Friday marked the second annual Veterans Day celebration at Mid-Valley Elementary in Throop.
A motorcade made its way through throngs of excited students holding patriotic signs.
"I'm really proud because I'm just glad I have somebody in my family who served in the Army," said fourth grader John Robbins.
Inside the school the ceremony continued with a color guard and bagpipes along with members of the armed services and many veterans.
Overshadowing the event was the mass shootings at Fort Hood, Texas.
Army veteran George Atkins still can't believe the news. "I was absolutely floored. I couldn't believe a man in his position being an officer and a gentleman could do such a thing to another American, a fighting man or a woman," Atkins said.
Angelica Harris serves in the Navy Reserves. "That it happened here, it's just a sickening feeling that we are losing soldiers here as well as overseas," Harris said.
Outside the school the flag flies at half staff, a somber reminder of the lives lost in Texas.
"It's a terrible tragedy, so close to Veterans Day and I would just like to say to all of the families my heart and prayers are with them all," said Navy Reservist Jake Delguerico.
