MARK — American Legion Post 180 Americanism officer Ron Bluemer recently presented Kyle and Donna Goetsch, residents of Mark, with a Blue Star service banner to honor their son, Jesse, who is currently serving in the U.S. Navy.

Prior to graduating from Putnam County High School in 2014, Jesse played golf for the Panthers as well as competing on the PCHS bass fishing team and Scholastic Bowl team. Jesse was also an Illinois State Scholar.

During his junior year in high school, Jesse scored high enough on his Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test to be accepted into the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program and enlisted into the Delayed Entry Program on his 18th birthday.

He completed his basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center on Oct. 3, 2014, and was then transferred to the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command at the Nuclear Power School in Goose Creek, S.C.

He graduated from the Nuclear “A” School on Feb. 6 as an E-4 Petty Officer 3rd Class Machinist Mate and is currently in the USN Power School training portion of the nuclear program.

Upon completing Power School he plans to complete his prototype training at the Nuclear Power Training Unit Naval Weapons Station in Charleston, S.C., on one of the two moored and decommissioned submarines, each of which have fully operational S5W reactor power plants.

Upon completion of the NPTU, Jesse has volunteered for duty on one of the 71 USN submarines for which his preference would be serving one of the “Boomer” subs which are armed with ballistic missiles.

Residents of Granville Township who have members of their families currently serving in any branch of the Armed Forces can contact Bluemer for information on how to obtain a Blue Star banner. Send pertinent information to Ron Bluemer, Americanism Officer, 134 Cleveland Circle, Granville, IL 61326 or call 815-339-1082.