It's a scene the people of Clovis are all too familiar with, the charter plane carrying the flag draped casket, met by men in uniform, helping to bring a service member back home.  Not knowing how else to help the family, the residents come out and line the streets standing solemnly along the roadside, some holding flags, others with their hand over their hearts, as the California Highway Patrol motorcade escorts Staff Sgt. Brian Piercy's casket from the airport. 

Piercy graduated from Buchanan High School in 2001.  He studied liberal arts in college before enlisting in the Army.  He is the seventh graduate from Buchanan to die in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was killed in Afghanistan when his unit was hit by an IED, or improvised explosive device. 

Among those paying their respects is Dominic Casanerio, one of his junior high teachers was Staff Sgt. Brian Piercy's mother.

"He came and spoke to our class," said Casanerio.  "Really nice guy, really cool."

Clovis, a small town that sits just north of Fresno has lost 10 young men in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it has many people here wondering why.  Jerry Casenerio, Dominic's father, has a theory:

"It's because it's truly a patriotic group of people and they love their country," said Casenerio. "I think that's the only way to put it."

Buchanan High School has lost more students to these wars than any other high school in California. The school football stadium was renamed Veteran's Memorial Stadium in 2007.

In some Central Valley towns, military service is the best option for high school grads. It might even be the only option.  But here the school district places extra emphasis on academics and Buchanan's drop out rate is much, much lower than the state average.

Its graduating students have attended MIT, Harvard, and Stanford. Former District Principal, Gabe Escalero takes great pride in what students have accomplished.

"They take a leadership role and they put themselves in harm's way, more so then the average soldier does," said Escalero.

Air Force Lt. Col. Ruslan Sanchez is the commander for Air Force recruiting services in Central and Northern California.  He says Clovis and the Central Valley in general make it relatively easy for recruiters to reach students.

"There are some areas that are harder for recruiters, but Clovis is not one of them," said Sanchez. "We actually have a good program and good recruiters. I would say over the past 3 years, we have seen a significant increase in people applying in the Clovis/Fresno area."

Army enlistments in Clovis have steadily increased, spiking in 2009 to almost double the number of enlistments in 2001.

But not everyone thinks that's such a good thing.  After three Buchanan students died in one school year, Buchanan implemented stricter guidelines for recruiters.

Buchanan graduate Zara Shiekh thought recruiters were on campus too much, so she went to the school principal, and asked if "Peace Fresno" could come and talk about alternatives to military service:

"She was actually fond of the idea and she did agree," said Shiekh. "We just wanted kids to be aware of both sides of the story and be aware of all of their options."

The loss of so many young men has generated thoughtful discussion among the students. Earlier this year, a passionate debate took place on Facebook regarding whether to stand and honor those joining the military at the class of 2010's graduation ceremony. The students decided not to stand, that graduation was a place to recognize academic achievements not future accomplishments.