Kindergarten, first- and second-grade students saw about a dozen American flags and unfurled two others measuring 25- by 15-feet in the gym of St. Mark School just before 9 a.m. on Nov. 8.
In preparation of Veterans Day on Friday, the Catholic elementary school in Catonsville held assemblies for its students on Nov. 8 that taught American flag etiquette and the history of the nation through the flag.
Gerry McCavera and his wife Virginia, of Media, Penn., gave a 30-minute presentation to some of the youngest students at the school.
Grades three through eight were divided into two groups, and each received a 45-minute presentation.
The McCaveras visit between 30 and 40 schools each year, said Gerry, who has given presentations about the flag since 1992.
McCavera explained the significance of the stars and stripes and displayed flags that resembled those that inspired Francis Scott Key, were waved by patriots like Sam Adams and stitched by Betsy Ross.
Alexandra Savage, a second-grade student from Catonsville, said she learned that the stars represent the 50 states.
Asked her favorite part, Savage said, "Holding the flag."
Anastasia Gumbel, a kindergartner from Elkridge, said she liked holding the gigantic flag while Catherine Kirby, a first-grade student from Ellicott City, said she enjoyed learning about the American flag .
The assemblies were coupled with a fundraising effort by the school to support soldiers serving overseas.
"Teachers are trying to make children more aware that there are people who sacrificed a great deal for you to make our country free," said Mary Morrison, a spokeswoman for the school.
In addition to the festivities, the school has organized fundraisers to support active-duty soldiers.
Aided primarily by a day when students donated $1 to wear clothes other than their uniform to school, the school raised $600.60, Morrison said.
About 80 percent of that, Morrison said, will be donated to the USO International Gateway Lounge at Baltimore Washington International Airport to purchase new books.
The lounge, according to BWI's website, is a $1.1-million-dollar facility that provides free Internet access, a snack bar, bag storage and a sleeping room for active-duty and retired military personnel.
At the lounge, Morrison said, a soldier can be recorded reading a children's book, and the DVD will be sent to the soldier's family.
The remainder of the money will support Marines aboard the USS Bataan, Morrison added.
Marines aboard that ship will receive mailing supplies so they can stay in contact with friends and family, Morrison said.
The school's sixth-grade class, Morrison said, will also send letters to the soldiers aboard the USS Bataan, where her 27-year-old son, Ryan, serves as a helicopter pilot.
"This is something that we want to instill in our children more, a sense of patriotism," Morrison said. "I don't think kids have that as much as past generations.
"(Hopefully) it will come full circle, and they'll pass it on to their children."