In a rural community like Soldotna it’s a special occasion when a local son not only graduates from the nation’s oldest military academy in the United States of America but was recruited to play football for the Army Black Knights. Home on leave 2LT Jonathon Pozonsky, son of Sarah Pozonsky, daughter of Barbra Ruckman of Soldotna received special recognition at a joint Kenai/Soldotna Chamber of Commerce meeting. “It was a privilege to honor Jonathon Pozonsky for his graduation from the United States Military Academy of West Point by presenting him with a flag that was flown over our Capital in Juneau. I have known Jonathon all his life and it has been a privilege to watch a little boy grow up to become an amazing young man who achieved an amazing accomplishment at West Point and is something that makes us all very proud here on the Kenai,” said Micciche.

Ponzonsky says he set his sights on the military at an early age, “When I was a little boy I saw the movie Top Gun and I knew instantly I wanted to be a fighter pilot. Then as I grew up and started to understand what the military was my dream started to change when I started to get recruited to play football at West Point. I learned what West Point was and originally was just going to enlist for the military but my parents said I should go to college if I could, so when I was recruited to play football at West Point I decided to take that route which fulfilled my passion to serve my country which I’m not sure where it came from. The only military person in my family was my grandfather Chuck Crapuchettes who founded Cook Inlet Academy. But I’ve always had a sense of patriotism and have always been a fan of the military and always wanted to serve and give back to my country. So it started with Top Gun grew through childhood then blossomed into reality at West Point,” said 2LT Ponzonsky. While Ponzonsky has been trained for military leadership he is uncertain of what he will pursue after he completes his eight year commitment to the Army, “If I like it I’ll make it a career but right now it’s too early to tell,” he said and too the graduating class of 2014 he added, “Work hard and follow your dreams and don’t be discouraged by what others say you can or can’t achieve. If you have a dream work hard and attain it.”