About 120 students gathered with veterans in the Shadow Ridge High School Fine Arts Auditorium in Surprise, and  joining them was Mayor Kevin Sartor.

A room full of juniors met for Take a Veteran to School Day Nov. 10, to ask questions from those with lived experiences to share with them.

The program from Spectrum and The History Channel brings veterans in to classrooms to share firsthand accounts of military service, sacrifice and leadership.

Sartor moderated a panel of local veterans, several of whom serve on the Shadow Ridge staff and walk the school’s halls daily.

“As a 20-year veteran, I know how powerful it is to connect our youth with those who have served,” said Sartor. “It’s especially meaningful to do that at Shadow Ridge High School, a Purple Star School that recognizes and supports military families and the sacrifices they make. I’m grateful to Spectrum and the HISTORY Channel for making events like this possible.”

When the conversation opened to the audience, students asked the panel questions beyond history-book basics, including how serving changes a person’s world view, what rules service members must follow, and how military service shapes the work veterans do today.

The event is part of The History Channel’s Mission to Honor initiative, which recognizes and supports veterans and military families.

Take a Veteran to School Day connects veterans with students in schools and communities nationwide. Participating schools can access free curriculum-based materials, videos and other resources.