Students salute the veterans they know best

The pride is evident at first glance -- child-inked names on hundreds of colored paper stars to commemorate loved ones who served in the military. On this Veterans Day, children at Valley Crossing Community School in Woodbury will look into the faces of history. Each child can invite a veteran to Thursday's all-school tribute, which will be led by Principal Mary Anderson. The Valley Crossing observance, in its first year, intends to help elementary students better understand the twin foundations of sacrifice and freedom. Parent volunteers made 1,100 stars and assembled the ones with veterans' names written on them into a large American flag on display in the school's lobby. Veterans Day observances will be held this week at schools, cemeteries and churches across Washington County. Many residents remain on overseas deployment, and the county has one of the most active Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organizations in Minnesota. A public Yellow Ribbon rally will be held Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Oakdale Prom Center to enlist more support for military families.