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Seventeen boys and girls of Denise Montgomery's first grade class had special guests and got a flag folding lesson Monday afternoon as a special Veterans Day treat.

U.S. Air Force veteran Ed Farmer of Plains talked to the kids about the history and etiquette of the American flag. His son, Buddy, and grandson, Cash, a member of the class, showed kids how to properly fold the flag, which is routinely done when a flag is about to be retired. Buddy said he wanted to show the class a proper flag retirement, but that would have resulted in going outside because it involves a fire, which is the preferred way to retire an unserviceable flag. He said his father has been giving the 6-year-old Cash lessons on the flag and he and Cash practiced the proper folding of a flag prior to the class.

Buddy did not serve in the military, but his son, Nicholas, a Plains High School graduate, is in the U.S. Navy. Two of Cash's uncles, Curran and Connor Rosich, both Plains graduates, are in the U.S. Army. "I wouldn't be surprised if Cash doesn't join the military," said Buddy.

Ed gave about a 20-minute lesson about the American flag, including its history, who made the first flag, what the red and white stripes, blue field, and stars stood for, and who wrote the "Star-Spangled Banner." He also told them how to take care of a flag after it's worn out or torn. He told the class that once he saw a flag sticking out of a garbage can and retrieved it for a proper retirement. He was surprised that so many of the students knew the right way to retire a flag. Ed served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years, including a one-year tour in Vietnam, where he was a crewman on a Douglas AC-47 gunship, nicknamed "Puff, the Magic Dragon."

Ed said he loved doing the class and thought the kids were attentive and responsive. "Some of their comments were terrific. I liked that one that thought Bonner's Ferry was the first state," said the 76-year-old Farmer. He said he was also impressed that Montgomery teaches the kids so much about the flag and patriotism. As a life member of the Plains VFW, he has participated in several of the club's annual flag retirements, held each year on Dec. 7. He and Cash retired a flag two years ago at his house. "He was really up for it and sang God Bless America while he was doing it," said Ed.

"We had a great time," said Buddy. "I thought they seemed interested and they were really good." Buddy plans to take Cash to the VFW Post 3596 flag retirement ceremony behind the Plains VFW on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Montgomery, a teacher for 28 years, said she has always taught her students about the flag. She said her students recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. The kids even recited it for their guests on Monday and sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" for them.