Back in March single mother Natasha Hoard was awoken by her 11-year-old son Jaymarrion telling her the house was on fire. Hoard, her three-year-old son and Jaymarrion all made it out safely, thanks to Jaymarrion.
“He was saying the house is on fire,” said Natasha. ” I didn’t want to believe it but I could smell the smoke.”
Jaymarrion’s quick thinking saved his mother and baby brother. It was this action that caught the attention of Dyan Bohnert, Vice President of the Daniel Harder, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 48 in Stuttgart and Chairwoman of the Children and Youth Committee for the Auxiliary.
“What this young man did deserved recognition. So I nominated him for the “Youth Hero and Good Deeds” award in April and received the award for Jaymarrion in May,” said Bohnert. “There was just one problem, I did not know how to reach him.”
Bohnert was talking with a friend, Dawn Teer, who works as a reporter for the DeWitt Era-Enterprise and a volunteer for In the Loop, a news service started when the Stuttgart Daily Leader closed down in 2019. Teer knew how to help Bohnert find Jaymarrion. In the archives of In the Loop’s website was the original article and Hoard’s cell phone number.
Bohnert reached out to Hoard, explaining about the award she wanted to present to Jaymarrion, along with a medal with the words “Courage” “Bravery” and “Selflessness” inscribed on it.
On Wednesday, December 16, Bohnert presented Jaymarrion his Award Certificate and medal and thanked him for being an example for others.
The American Legion Auxiliary National Children and Youth Committee created the “Youth Hero and Good Deed” award to recognize girls and boys who demonstrate a kind caring act of selflessness. They use this award as an example to others how to do selfless acts in their everyday lives. The American Legion Auxiliary was founded on the principle of, “In the Spirit of Service, Not Self for God, Country and Veterans.”
“Even though we have been unable to have meetings because of COVID, I have still collected and donated over 1,000 items to veterans on behalf of the American Legion Auxiliary.” Said Bohnert. In 2019 Bohnert won a state award for having the most volunteer hours, over 4,000.
