VIDEO: C-5 flyover for students at Sunderland Elementary School

SUNDERLAND, Mass. (WWLP) - One town in Franklin County is marking Veteran's Day a few days early.

In Sunderland Thursday morning, a C-5 from Westover Air Reserve Base kicked-off the town's annual ceremony by flying over the Elementary School.

Students lined up outside to witness the action going on about one thousand feet above them.

Following the flight, service members from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard joined the children back in the classroom to answer questions.

"The whole purpose of the event is to familiarize children with what it means to serve in the military," said Sunderland community coordinator Dan VanDulsen, "and they understand more about the sacrifice of people who choose a military career and the defense of our nation."

This year's guest speaker was Gulf War veteran, SSgt Patrick Bond, who just recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan.