NORTH ANDOVER — Fifth-grader Thanh-Thao Nguyan took a deep breath, smiled and started reading from her paper, looking up at the end of every sentence like she had practiced.
"We want veterans of all wars to know that we appreciate the sacrifice that veterans have made for us to have freedom," she said, rehearsing by a flag in her school's music room. "They left their family behind, some of them died so we all could live free."
The 10-year-old has an important job ahead of her this Thursday.
Thanh is the winner of Thomson School's veterans essay contest.
Chosen from dozens of other fifth-graders at the Waverly Road elementary school, Thanh will read her essay before an audience of veterans, schoolmates, parents and other community members at the school's annual Salute to Our Vets.
The school has had the salute for the past two years as a way to honor those who served. It's fitting considering the school is named after a veteran who made the ultimate sacrifice.
North Andover native Albert E. Thompson joined the Army when he was only 15, dropping the "p" in his name so he could fake his age — enlistment age was 18 — and not risk being tracked down. He was the town's first soldier killed in World War I.
Not only will Thanh read her essay, but there will be a bagpiper, a citation from state Rep. David Torrisi and an address by VFW commander Mike Wilson, a Thomson alumnus. The first-grade students also will recite a veterans poem.
Two students, Jake Brooks and Colton Webster, will give a PowerPoint presentation on the history of wars and memorials. And all Thomson students have learned the four marches of the armed services they will sing as fifth-grader Bailey Regan, the second-place finisher of the essay contest, narrates.
Dozens of veterans, from World War II to the Iraq war, are expected to attend the festivities.
The idea is to put on a tribute for the veterans, while at the same time teach students how the sacrifices of millions of men and women have shaped the country.
"The students have all been working really hard," said co-organizer Kathy O'Neill, the school's nurse. "This is very important to them."
All Thomson students will receive flags from the Lawrence Exchange Club. The event kicks off at 8:45 a.m., and includes breakfast.
With the last few sentences of her speech, Thanh delivered what teachers have said is a wise message coming from someone so young.
"We have our problems, but it is still a good country," she said. "If you love your freedom, then thank our veterans."
