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NORTON

World War II Navy veteran Herbert Church got grilled when he visited Nourse Elementary School last month.

Students asked him "three pages of questions," including why the 5,000 men aboard his ship ate only two meals a day, he said.

So Church showed them a photo of the vessel.

Friday, Church and 12 other veterans from Norton, Attleboro and Wrentham returned to Nourse and found themselves on cloud 9. The 20 students in Amy Weber's third-grade class displayed their recent interviews with the servicemen, sang patriotic songs and did a special patriotic cheer they wrote in honor of the veterans. The students also handed each veteran a rose.

"My God, I never had this in the third grade," Church, past commander of Norton American Legion Post 222, said afterward.

Weber said she had done a similar program in Pennsylvania, where she taught last year.

She approached Principal Danielle Klingaman about reprising the project at Nourse.

Mission accomplished.

"I saw some veterans' tears," Weber said.

The veterans were so appreciative that they handed each student a small American flag afterward.

"It's important because this is where it starts. It's them. It's not us," said Tom Deluca, who served in the Marines during the Korean War. "I never thought I'd be asked so many questions by 8-year-olds. We really had a great time."

Student Stephanie Tucker, who interviewed Ed Stanton, told the crowd that veterans are "people who give respect, and people who care a lot about America."

The veterans, students and their parents then watched a presentation of photos of the third-graders sitting at their desks, interviewing the soldiers. "The teacher ought to be complimented for putting together this program," Church said afterward.

The students' cheer spelled out "veteran."

One by one, students stood holding letters. They started with "V," for "Veterans are special people," and ended with "n," for "No veteran is forgotten."

The students included their interviews in special displays with photos of their veteran with them and in the service.

Malaika Rivera interviewed Joe Keenan, who served in the Marines during the Vietnam War.

"Mr. Keenan's advice for young people was, 'Make sure you finish your education and make sure you graduate.' He also said, 'Be true to yourself and respect others,'" Rivera wrote. "I had a wonderful day with Mr. Keenan. He is a true American Hero."

MICHAEL GELBWASSER can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.