Lexi Quinn plays the first half of Echo Taps during a school assembly honoring Memorial Day at Rundlett Middle School on Friday, May 26, 2017. During the event, the students heard from Concord VFW quartermaster Paul Lloyd and Maj. Brooks Hayward with the New Hampshire National Guard. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)
Lexi Quinn plays the first half of Echo Taps during a school assembly honoring Memorial Day at Rundlett Middle School on Friday, May 26, 2017. During the event, the students heard from Concord VFW quartermaster Paul Lloyd and Maj. Brooks Hayward with the New Hampshire National Guard. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)

Rundlett Middle School observed Memorial Day with an all-school assembly on Friday. Students listened to keynote speaker Maj. Brooks Hayward talk about his two tours in Iraq. The middle school chorus, band and orchestra performed songs such as “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “America the Beautiful” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Students also learned about the origins of Memorial Day, its difference from Veterans Day, and they heard the story behind the little red remembrance poppies provided to each of them from the Concord VFW.