The students of Center School and Old Hammondtown School came together to celebrate Flag Day on Tuesday morning.

Students and their families surrounded the flag pole outside of Center School while students from the Old Hammondtown School band played patriotic songs. The celebration opened with Center School principal Rose Bowman reciting readings and poetry about what the American flag symbolizes.

“It represents our values beyond measure,” she read.

After the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, the Old Hammondtown band played the national anthem. Then, students from different grades at Center School took turns contributing to the ceremony. Some classes sang songs, such as “Our Flag” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” and others recited poems such as “Something Special.”

The Old Hammondtown Band closed the ceremony with a rendition of “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”

There was a large turnout of parents, siblings and grandparents at the ceremony, something that Bowman was very happy to see.

“I wish I had a drone so I could see you from above,” she said. “It’s beautiful to see you all here together.”