MANCHESTER - The Pelham Memorial Brass Ensemble visited the veterans of the Community Living Center at the VA Medical Center in Manchester last month.

Music was performed by five eighth graders Robert Colter, Will Campbell, Alex Deacon, Rachel Marion and Nick Kathios, conducted by Paul Santerre.

The musicians wanted to say thank you to the veterans for their service and show their appreciation the best way they know how, through music.

They performed a medley of patriotic songs from the National Anthem to "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Your're A Grand Old Flag," as well as some classic Christmas songs that included "Angels we Have Heard on High" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."

The audience included veterans' family members, VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members from the John H. Hargreaves Memorial Post 10722, and John Skidmore, hospital chairperson for the Department of New Hampshire VFW.

The selections of songs, the performance and the enthusiasm exhibited by the students was recognized and applauded by Madeline Dreusicke, hospital chairperson for the Department of New Hampshire Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW, who arranged for the students to perform.

"You can clearly see that these students learn both in the classroom and out", she said.

Santerre was instrumental in creating the Brass Ensemble back in 2010 as a branch of the 7th and 8th Grade Concert Band.

During the past few years the brass ensemble has performed at the New Hampshire Solo & Ensemble Festival sponsored by the New Hampshire Music Educators Association, Rivier University in Nashua, the Pelham Memorial School Chamber night and in May, 2012, the musicians performed the National Anthem at a New Hampshire Fisher Cats game in Manchester.