FAIRHOPE, Ala. — “We heard the whine of an airplane,” Wes Strauley said. “Then we heard the bombs. That was the beginning of World War II.”

Strauley told his firsthand experience of living through Pearl Harbor to students at Fairhope Middle School last week.

He was one of six veterans who spoke at FMS on Oct. 31, making history come alive for the 6th-grade students studying 20th century history this year.

It was a presentation organized by Joe Birindelli, chairman of the Fairhope Veterans Day Parade Committee, and Marjorie Duhon, a 6th-grade teacher at the school.

Strauley painted a frightening picture of the chaos and violence of Dec. 7, 1941, when Japanese planes attacked the Navy base on Oahu, leading to the entry of the United States into the war.

He also described how he shot down a plane that flew by close overhead.

“My hands were sweaty, and my mouth was dry,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I was lucky. But I was scared. And I didn’t shoot down any more planes with a Browning automatic.”

After Strauley spoke, other veterans took the podium, telling of their military experiences in Korea, during the Cold War, in Vietnam, Desert Storm and the current conflict in Iraq.

Some speakers used humor to keep the students entertained.

“I don’t know if many of you know where Korea is,” Sonny Willisson said. “Because we sure didn’t know where Korea was either until we were sent there. I just wanted to see if you knew where it was.”

A few hands lifted, and then laughter rippled through the crowd of 250 students packed in the school cafeteria.

The six speakers gave the students a unique look into the history of every war the nation has fought from World War II to the present.

“We assembled a group of local veterans to tell the students their firsthand accounts of the important military events in our country over the past 65 years,” Birindelli said. “I am hoping this will spark an interest and result in these students’ participation in this year’s Veterans Day Parade.”

One message common to all speakers was the debt Americans owe to veterans and what their sacrifices have earned for citizens living in the country today.

Clint Rudolph, who served with the Army in Vietnam and in Iraq, told of a friend who was killed overseas.

“This is the price that veterans have paid,” he said. “What we’re doing today is to let you know what a veteran is. I hope you take it all in and realize that freedom is not free.”

Don Odom, who served with the Army in Desert Storm, wore a bright red coat that he said represented the blood spilled by veterans in all wars.

He also joked with the audience, and told them how the experience of veterans is relevant to their lives.

“If you can read, you should thank a teacher,” he said. “If you can read it in English, you need to thank your teacher — and a veteran.”

Several of the veterans said that the reality in Iraq is not being accurately presented in the newspapers and on television.

“It’s better than what you see,” Rudolph said. “I hope we leave with our heads held high.”

City Councilman Bob Gentle told the students about his experiences during the Cold War.

“We didn’t shoot at each other,” he said. “We spied on each other. We gave each other the cold shoulder.”

Gentle talked about the threat of nuclear incidents. He said that students of his generation were the first to have to grapple with this possibility and recalled that during his childhood, bomb shelters and practice drills in school were common.

“That was the kind of fear we lived under,” he said.

After the presentations, Birindelli asked students if they had questions. After some initial hesitation, hands shot up around the room and stayed there until time ran out.

Questions ranged from how medals were earned, to why soldiers were fighting in Iraq, to whom the best presidential candidate was.

“I was impressed with the kids,” Birindelli said. “They gave a lot of thought to what they asked and had some deep questions. It says a lot about their teachers.”

Strauley agreed.

“I thought it was pretty remarkable,” he said. “Most of them were right on the beam. They were really concerned.”

Birindelli said that he had received an e-mail from Duhon the day after the event.

“Thanks again for the wonderful assembly,” she wrote. “The students are still talking about your guys!!!”