McCormack, a sixth-grader at Hobomock Elementary School, said he channeled the emotions of veterans, both dead and living, when he read his winning essay.

“It just happened instantly for me. All the veterans, I just felt their emotions,” he said.

McCormack was one of three Pembroke students to read their essays on “What is a veteran?” at the town’s annual Veterans Day ceremony, held Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. — the day and hour at which, in 1918, the Armistice was signed ending World War I. The event was held at the Council on Aging.

For the first time, the Pembroke High School chorus joined in the celebration of local veterans, performing the national anthem, service songs for the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Marine Corps, “America the Beautiful” and “Omnia Sol.”

Town Memorial Committee chairwoman Linda Osborne said she was excited to have the chorus at the event.

“We’ve waited so many years to have them,” she said. The PHS marching band will play their first Memorial Day parade in May.

Joe Salmon, an Army Air Corps veteran who served during World War II, said his favorite part of the ceremony was the playing of the service songs, both by the chorus and on piano by Jim MacLellan.

“I was waiting to get up for mine,” Salmon said. He and other veterans stood as their songs were played.

The ceremony began with former sergeant of arms Frank Costa, an Army Air Corps veteran, reading the proclamation from Gov. Deval Patrick declaring Nov. 11 as Veterans Day. The Rev. Sandra Russell of Bryantville United Methodist Church gave the invocation, and Town Memorial Committee member Josephine Hatch led those gathered in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by musical selections.

Board of Selectmen chairwoman Terry Finnegan in her address emphasized the importance of keeping in touch with soldiers through letter-writing and other outreach.

“Whether we agree or disagree about why our military is where they are, we must all agree that we owe this small token of appreciation given what they do for us,” Finnegan said. “Please continue extending today’s celebration and appreciation for our veterans by finding a way to keep them in our hearts and minds throughout the whole year. They deserve this from us.”

Marine Corps veteran Michael Hurney, commander of the American Legion Arthur Briggs Post 143, also talked about taking action.

“While we are happy to be here today to express our appreciation for our veterans, true appreciation is best expressed through deeds, not words,” Hurney said. “When an American Legion auxiliary member asks for a donation for a poppy, remember the Korean War veteran in a hospital bed. When a member of Congress complains about the cost of veterans programs, please remind the lawmakers the cost of being a veteran. And we must never forget their families. Honor these families with open hearts and good deeds.”

Navy veteran Scott MacInnes then read “In Flanders Fields,” a poem written by Canadian Lt. Col. John McRae.

Another winning essayist, Bryantville sixth-grader Christopher Slaven talked about his great-great-uncle Milton Burke, now in his 80s, who was a teenager when he landed on the beaches of Normandy with the American forces during World War II.

“He is an old man now. He is still tall and strong, yet his heart still breaks when he thinks of the lives of the men who were his friends that were lost so young,” Slaven said.

North Pembroke sixth-grader Sean Damon said he was inspired by his grandfathers, both veterans, when writing his winning essay.

“Veterans have fought for our freedom with bravery. … They have given us the ability to choose our leaders, our religions and where and how we live,” he read.

The winners of the annual Veterans Day essay contest will receive medals from the Town Memorial Committee at the Memorial Day ceremony and U.S. Treasury bonds from the Tri-Town Rotary, Osborne said.

“Our country will be OK, with kids like this,” she said, smiling, after the students read their essays.