Daily News Photo by CRISTIAN SIMESCU American Legion Post 85 commander Amos L. Sealey speaks to St. Croix Seventh-day Adventist School seniors.

ST. CROIX - Several high school seniors learned the spirit and history of Veterans Day on Tuesday morning at the American Legion Hall in Gallows Bay, Christiansted.

The students from St. Croix Seventh-day Adventist School had been invited to meet with members of American Legion Post 85.

During the meeting, veterans talked to the students about the history of the holiday shared with them what it is like to serve in the military.

Post 85 commander Amos Sealey said Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day when it was first celebrated at the end of World War I. The day became a holiday in 1938, and in 1954 the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.

"We do this every year and it's a pleasure to talk to these kids and help them if they are interested in a military career," Sealey said.

The students also learned that a "Missing in Action" flag is carefully laid onto an empty chair during every Legion meeting to symbolize members of armed forces missing from their ranks. Several items also were placed onto an empty table symbolizing and paying tribute to prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action.

Post 85 Adjutant Raphael Munchez Sr., who will be serving as grand marshal at the Veterans Day parade on St. Croix today, said he hopes the students will remember the meeting with the veterans for the rest of their lives.

"Our thought is that they will remember they were at Post 85 and know what veterans are all about," Munchez said.

Post 85 past commander Charles Davis said he served on the front lines of the Korean War after one of the students asked if anyone present served in a war.

Davis said he had seen the horrors of war that stayed with him many years after, including in his dreams, but was fortunate not to be wounded physically. He also said one winter in Korea was enough.

St. Croix Seventh-day Adventist School guidance counselor Searl Gordon said he hopes the students develop an appreciation for veterans and individuals that put put their lives on the line to ensure our safety.

"I want to respect the fact that there are others who have sacrificed their lives to ensure that we are safe," Gordon said.

The legionnaires also hosted students from Manor School on Monday and visited Pearl B. Larsen Elementary School last week.