Blue Jay "Space Pennant" Returns to DSJ

by Sue Gerker, Class of 1992

     Marie Buettner was excited.  Excited to be a freshman in 1957 at Delphos St. John's.  She was an active student and an avid fan who felt honored to be a Blue Jay.  To show her pride she bought a school pennant and hung it on a bulletin board in her bedroom.  It stayed there until she married the man who would eventually take that piece of St. John's memorabilia into outer space.

     Buettner married Gordon Fullerton at St. John the Evangelist Church in 1968.  The couple met at Edwards Air Force Base when she was in the nursing corps and he was a test pilot.  Eventually, Gordon became a NASA astronaut.  On Columbia's third flight, Gordon was allowed to bring with him some personal mementoes that collectively weighed no more than one pound.  Included in that bundle of items was Marie's Blue Jay pennant.

     "Gordon and I thought it would be an honor to fly the pennant that represented St. John's," Marie said.

     Many Delphos residents made the trip to Florida to see the launch, including Bishop Ottenweller, who said Mass for those gathered before take off.

     The pennant remained in a lock box ever since Gordon returned from that flight.  Today the Fullerton's are presenting the item to the school.  Perhaps it will aspire future generations of proud Blue Jays to reach for the stars and never forget from where they came. 

Marie and Gordon present the pennant to St. John's principal Don Huysman.       

St. John's Alumni president Chuck Wannemacher presents Blue Jay shirts to Marie and Gordon Fullerton.