AUBREY — While many had Memorial Day off, students in several area school districts were in class, and some took time to honor both military veterans and current service members.

At campuses in Krum and Aubrey, events and programs recognized members of the U.S. military on Monday. The two districts, along with the Pilot Point school district, were in school to make up a bad weather day from an ice storm that closed schools in January.

Aubrey Superintendent James Monaco said that while it was unfortunate that students had to be in school, he found the day could be used to educate students on the significance of the holiday.

Monaco said he asked principals to start planning Memorial Day events more than a month ago.

“I think it was a unique opportunity to explain to everyone the true meaning of this day and the freedoms that they have because of the soldiers, and how some of them paid the ultimate sacrifice so that they can be here today celebrating,” he said. “The students, I think, had an experience that they couldn’t get any place else.”

Aubrey campuses took a moment of silence to remember fallen soldiers as taps played at 3 p.m.

At Aubrey Middle School, students decorated their campus in a patriotic theme and discussed the day’s significance in social studies classes.

DRC/Gary Payne

John Whitley, left, Bud Myers and Wade Chapman of Denton Memorial Chapter 106 of the Disabled American Veterans salute during a flag-raising ceremony led by members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2205 on Monday at Brockett Elementary School in Aubrey. The veterans and school held a ceremony to honor U.S. soldiers killed during wartime.

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Monaco Elementary School students spent the last portion of the day flying kites on the playground in remembrance of fallen soldiers. Several students ran along the lawns waiting for a breeze to come through, racing beneath their kites when the wind lifted them into the air.

While the kites, featuring cartoon characters, were not patriotic-themed, Monaco Elementary Principal Shannon Saylor said the idea of flying kites “high toward the skies of heavens would be honoring our veterans.”

Students at Aubrey High School spent the morning watching a 25-minute student-produced film including interviews with local veterans and current members of the military.

One interview subject was Cpl. Sam Carlock, a U.S. Marine who graduated from Aubrey High in 2005. Carlock talked about going out on missions and the feeling of not knowing what may happen and who may or may not come back.

Carlock said he wanted to convey to students the importance of not taking anyone for granted. Students might find it harder to relate to older soldiers, he said, but his appearance on the video shows someone close to them in age, speaking of others who lost their lives at a young age fighting for those students’ freedoms.

“I felt that if I told my stories, they would respect the fact that Memorial Day is more important than some realize,” Carlock said.

Memorial Day events in Aubrey wrapped up with a flag dedication and ceremony at Brockett Elementary. Veterans joined the campus for the program, which included a 21-gun salute to remember their comrades.

“We have to pass it on,” said Fred Wells, senior vice commander of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 2205 in Denton. “If we don’t pass it on, we’re going to lose the tradition of Memorial Day and what it stands for.”

Attendance for the day overall seemed average, Monaco said, but no exact totals were readily available. Some students spent half a day in class, he said, before parents picked them up to spend the remainder of the holiday with family.

DRC/Gary Payne

Monaco Elementary School student Ally Mulkey works to get her kite airborne on Monday, when students flew kites heavenward to remember fallen soldiers. Aubrey students were in class Monday to make up for a bad weather day.

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In Krum, district Superintendent Mike Davis said schools had a high absence rate, with about one-third of students out for the holiday. Next year, he said the district will look into ensuring weather makeup days do not fall on such a holiday.

Students at Krum’s Early Education Center marked the day by gathering at the flagpole to say the Pledge of Allegiance and observe a daily moment of silence. Principal Tammy Morris also used the time to explain the holiday’s significance.

Students also brought photos of family members who have served in the military.

“The staff was pleasantly surprised at the results of the pictures and stories that were shared. There were pictures of current soldiers serving in Iraq and others that dated back to World War I,” campus secretary Jennifer Wiley said in an e-mail. “The students that did not have pictures of loved ones to share were encouraged to color a patriotic picture to add to the decor.”

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com .