BIG PINEY – A gauntlet of uniformed veterans – 11 men and one woman – stood at the entrance of the Puncher Gym on Friday at 11:10 a.m., shaking hands with students, teachers, family and community members as they entered the gym for the annual ceremony.

National Honor Society, Boys State and Girls State students, Big Piney High School band and choir members and speaker Rocky Piernick created a patriotic ensemble of music, photos, poetry and speeches that left few eyes dry.

Jackie Meador welcomed the crowd and veterans, who were treated to a slideshow tribute to “Soldier’s Cry” of South County veterans over the decades and who still serve by their branches of service, accompanied by Cynthia Sass. Clayton Mullikin read Joanna Fuchs’ poem “The Best on Earth: A Veterans Day Tribute,” followed by Boys State speakers John Ruby and Jackie Meador and Girls State speakers Julia Hymas and Monica Serna.

Superintendent Charles Jenks then introduced the “Armed Forces Salute” as the band played each service branch’s theme music, with veterans standing for the Army, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Navy.

Finally, Mack Rawhouser welcomed the crowd, pointing to the Big Piney football team and coaches leaving shortly for their State championship in Laramie against Wind River.

Rocky Piernick enlisted in the Air Force in February 1963, a Big Piney graduate who played when Punchers football teams went to State in 1959-60 and 1960-61.

“Now a welcome for your hometown veteran, Rocky Piernick!” Rawhouser proclaimed.

Piernick had two veterans bring him a long narrow box wrapped in gold with a black band on one end. What was inside, he said, was more valuable than gold. The box opened, a banner proclaiming FREEDOM unfurled and was held up.

Piernick spoke eloquently of freedoms without restraint – “But freedom has a price.”

The black band signified the millions of men and women lost at war and as many injured, he explained.

He pointed to Deputy Ryan Day, Big Piney school resource officer for 12 years, and said, “His title is Keeper. He is active and he stands for you every day that he is here and for that we salute you.”

There was still more emotion to drink in – after the ceremony, Punchers football players, cheerleaders and coaches held an impromptu pep rally and as the team headed for its bus to State at War Memorial Arena, most of South County beeped, cheered and followed them for the next day’s big game.