Stevenson Elementary School kindergarten student Luke Arnold, left, presents U.S. Army veteran “Mr. Joe” Ferry with a handmade thank you card for his military service while Kindergarten teacher Jennifer Clark looks on. Mr. Joe spoke to students at SES about Veterans Day on Friday.

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For ten years “Mr. Joe” Ferry has been volunteering his time as a Foster Grandparent at Stevenson Elementary School.

On Friday, the former Army sergeant who served as a machine gun operator in the Korean War shared more of himself, as he visited Kindergarten classrooms at SES to talk to children about Veterans Day.

Military men and women serve “for the love of the flag and the love of their country,” he said. …“They protect families for the freedom we have.”

Mr. Joe loved talking to the students.

“The teacher’s almost like a soldier, keeping in them in line and focused on learning,” he said. “It’s nice they can reflect on what soldiers do” and use that as a way to help them understand the importance of giving their all in school, too.

After Mr. Joe had finished speaking in Jennifer Clark’s classroom, Mrs. Clark presented him with a framed photo of himself at a military memorial. Each of her students gave him a handmade thank you card.

Mr. Joe was moved by the gesture. As he prepared to speak to another class, he reflected on what Veterans Day means to him.

“I served my country,” he said. “It makes you feel satisfied that you did something.”