East Lyme - Sgt. Kristi Artigue spoke about her experiences in the Army, but her response to a question about how things are different in Iraq than in America drew gasps from seventh-grade girls.

"Oh let me count the ways. Let's see, I can't drive a car, I can't wear makeup ... there are many differences in wardrobe. And I can't go to the mall," Artigue said, smiling.

Kara Santa Maria, 12, who posed the question, was surprised.

"I couldn't do it. That would be a lot of things to give up, and it would be hard to do," Santa Maria said.

While many students at school districts around the region were given the day off, East Lyme's public schools offered educational programs for its students. The Social Studies Department at the middle school hosted its seventh annual Veterans Day celebration by inviting about 25 veterans to speak to students throughout the day.

The school also had two video conference calls using Skype, a software application that allows users to make video and voice calls over the Internet, to connect with soldiers serving in Iraq, like Artigue, who works in operations and is a medic by trade.

Physical education teacher Jim Moran moderated the video conference calls. He said the school started making the calls to connect with soldiers in 2005, when he was deployed in Iraq. He met Artigue, who is from Newington, when he was in the 141st Medical Company.

Seventh-graders asked Artigue what the worst part of being in Iraq was, if there was any wildlife out there, what her typical day was like and if she's proud to serve her country.

"Of course. If you haven't heard. America's the best," Artigue said.

She told them her favorite food to eat in Iraq was grilled chicken breast and that she misses the peanut butter she likes from Whole Foods. She said she's made new friends in the military, and her weapon of choice is a 3-foot-tall M16 rifle.

Artigue has been to Iraq twice, Kuwait, the Dominican Republic, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina. She'll be in Balad, Iraq, until next summer.

"It feels good to be a veteran, but we don't see ourselves as heroes or veterans. We're just doing our job," Artigue said.

Several panel discussions were held with veterans throughout the day. The panelists said they liked having the chance to speak with students, and many of them attended the town's Veterans Day celebration held earlier in the morning on the Town Green.

The day concluded with an outdoor ceremony with student readings, a band medley, a moment of silence and "Taps."

Students said they were pleased they could hear the stories told by veterans and had the chance to ask them questions.

"I like that we get to honor the veterans instead of being at home," Santa Maria said. "We get to interact with them."

John Nahass, 12, said he thinks students wouldn't know and understand the meaning of Veterans Day if they were given the day off.

"It's a fun day, but it's still learning, and it's interesting," Nipun Hewage, 11, added.

a.renczkowski@theday.com