The atmosphere in the gymnasium of the Penn Kidder Elementary School was decidedly different from a similar gathering this time last year.

While the student body, faculty, friends and the object of everyone's attention, first-grade teacher Ralph Clay, were all basically the same, the underlying feeling was a much happier one.The colors red, white and blue, which were everywhere - from posters to flags - were accompanied by a multitude of smiling beaming faces.Mr. Clay had come home!After a year on duty for his country, Ralph "Puzzy" Clay had come home to his family, friends, and his students from his service in Afghanistan.When the school's principal, Brian Gasker, spoke last year of Clay's eventual return home by saying that, "There's no party like a Penn Kidder party," he was not wrong.After his arrival via fire engine to a throng in the school parking lot, Clay was greeted with thunderous cheers and shouts by hundreds in the gymnasium, including veterans, speakers, and the school chorus.When speaking to the gathering, Clay thanked everyone for their prayers and support and for the packages sent to him while stationed this past year with the Naval Reserve in Afghanistan.Reaching back in time, members of the faculty and staff helped close out the celebration by singing a specially reworded version of the song "Welcome Back" from the 70s TV sitcom "Welcome Back Kotter."