Mason, Schroeder honored as Hometown Heroes
Photo by Deb Gau Jan Mason, at right, was presented with the Modern Woodmen of America's Hometown Hero Award on Saturday.
Photo by Deb Gau Dale Schroeder was surprised with the Hometown Hero Award on Saturday.
Photo by Deb Gau Jan Mason, at right, was presented with the Modern Woodmen of America's Hometown Hero Award on Saturday.
Photo by Deb Gau Dale Schroeder was surprised with the Hometown Hero Award on Saturday.
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MARSHALL - Two area residents got a joyous surprise this weekend.
Jan Mason and Dale Schroeder were each presented with Modern Woodmen of America's Hometown Heroes award.
Schroeder is a Marshall resident and veteran who is active with the American Legion Honor Guard, and Mason has been active with dementia awareness and education efforts in the area.
Both honorees were called up on stage Saturday at the Lyon County Fair, during the Senior Day at the Fair program. To go along with their awards, Mason and Schroeder were each presented with $100 that they could put toward the charity of their choice.
"Jan is our dementia champion," said Jane Nelson Como, program manager at A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota.
She said Mason put in a lot of work fundraising for the Marshall Area Dementia Network. As part of one fundraising effort, Mason went skydiving out of a small plane.
"She raised over $3,000 for our dementia funds because we didn't get our grant," Nelson Como said.
Nelson also created a play, "Moments of Joy," to help educate people about dementia and memory loss, leads a cooking class for seniors, and has helped organize the Walk for Memories event in Marshall.
"She's been very involved with everything," Nelson Como said.
"I just want to say thank you," Mason said on accepting the Hometown Hero award. "I did not know, and I did not expect it. It's all about the people, because I care about them so much."