FARMINGTON – Middle schoolers want to give back to their community, they say. That’s why on Thursday they spent time raking leaves and sprucing up Meetinghouse Park.

They made sure the leaves and pine needles were cleared from in front of a new veterans’ memorial to be unveiled at 9:30 a.m. Saturday on Veterans’ Day, as well as other veteran memorials at the park.

Mt. Blue Middle School staff were doing their share of raking, too.

It’s the second year students at the school have chosen to do community service at the park, school guidance counselor Jan Welch said as she took a break.

Jake Maxey, 12, of Farmington, was down on his knees at one point in the wet grass cleaning the leaves. A minute later he was up and back raking.

“I kind of enjoy this,” Maxey said.

Garry Bator, also 12, of Farmington, raked in front of the tarped-over new memorial, and said raking wasn’t as hard as construction work.

“It’s fun,” said Travis Waterman, 12, of Farmington, his cheeks red from working. “It is helping out the community.”

Spanish teacher Bob Nielsen picked up bags of leaves and put them on a Parks and Recreation Department trailer.

He had worked with students during the community service project last year.

“The kids want to give back,” Nielsen said.

Cameron Frost, 13, of Farmington concentrated on clearing the front of the new monument.

“It has to look good – that’s important,” Frost said.

Welch’s voice guided students.

“Make sure it’s nice and raked, Welch said.”

“I like doing it because it helps the community,” said Alex Chandler, 12, of Farmington. “I like it because I love being helpful.”

Welch organized the service project.

“I just think it’s important for kids to give back,” she said. “The community gives them so much.”