MONROE - Two Monroe men were recently honored through the American Red Cross "Real Heroes" program. Hollis Bausman was named the Hero of a Lifetime for South Central Wisconsin, and Zachary VanNatta was named the Youth Good Samaritan for South Central Wisconsin.
The two received their awards at a Red Cross celebration Saturday, June 18 in Milton, along with other recipients of the Real Hero Awards for South Central Wisconsin.
No formal ceremony is being held in Monroe. However, the Heroes' families are honoring the men with a reception from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 9 at Monroe Fire Station One, 601 W. 17th St., Monroe. Light refreshments will be served.
As a part of the Real Heroes program, a production company was in Monroe for two days in May making videos about the men. Many area residents are featured in the videos explaining why the men are heroes. Those wishing to will be able to see the videos during the informal reception at Fire Station One.
Bausman was selected for years of volunteerism to Monroe, Green County and the region.
He has been a Monroe Firefighter (paid volunteer) since 1976. As a part of the Monroe Fire Department, Bausman has worn many "helmets," including those of lieutenant and captain, as well as being an energetic and dedicated member of the Monroe Volunteer Firefighters Association. According to a release, Fire Chief Daryl Rausch wrote in a letter supporting Hollis' nomination, that Hollis is one of those people who is small in stature but whose dedication to others is second to none.
With nearly 26 gallons of blood donated to American Red Cross, Bausman has been donating blood for about the same amount of time he has been fighting fires.
Over the years, Bausman has made many trips to Madison to donate in Red Cross' apherisis program.
Additionally, Bausman has assisted in building five Green County Habitat for Humanity homes, volunteered as a skilled foreman on community built playgrounds in Monroe (Swiss ALPS Playground) and Cottage Grove, and coached youth softball for Monroe's Parks and Recreation Department.
He is a dedicated volunteer to the Apostolate to the Handicapped and volunteers monthly at a food pantry sponsored by St. Victor Catholic Church and St. Vincent de Paul in Monroe.
Bausman guided his nephew, VanNatta, through his Eagle Scout project and is a large part of the reason VanNatta became an Eagle Scout at age of 14.
VanNatta, 17, is an high honors student at Monroe High School. He belongs to the National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Boy Scout Troop 101, Venturing Crew 1812, Order of the Arrow (considered the National Honor Society of scouting), plays football, is in Forensics, and is bookkeeper for Monroe's basketball program.
VanNatta volunteers to help young scouts get started on the right foot down their scouting path. He is currently vice president of administration of Crew 1812 and chapter secretary in Order of the Arrow.
A long-time volunteer for Apostolate to the Handicapped, VanNatta is an Acolyte and Lector for television masses and at Apostolate events. VanNatta is also an acolyte at St. Victor Catholic Church.
Additionally, he volunteers for the Monroe Kiwanis, Troop 101's charter organization.
For the past two years, VanNatta has volunteered to tutor a youth, who has Asperger's Disorder and ADHD, through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Green County School Based Mentoring program.
It is estimated that besides school and working part-time at Dairy Queen in Monroe, VanNatta volunteers almost 300 hours per year.
The two received their awards at a Red Cross celebration Saturday, June 18 in Milton, along with other recipients of the Real Hero Awards for South Central Wisconsin.
No formal ceremony is being held in Monroe. However, the Heroes' families are honoring the men with a reception from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 9 at Monroe Fire Station One, 601 W. 17th St., Monroe. Light refreshments will be served.
As a part of the Real Heroes program, a production company was in Monroe for two days in May making videos about the men. Many area residents are featured in the videos explaining why the men are heroes. Those wishing to will be able to see the videos during the informal reception at Fire Station One.
Bausman was selected for years of volunteerism to Monroe, Green County and the region.
He has been a Monroe Firefighter (paid volunteer) since 1976. As a part of the Monroe Fire Department, Bausman has worn many "helmets," including those of lieutenant and captain, as well as being an energetic and dedicated member of the Monroe Volunteer Firefighters Association. According to a release, Fire Chief Daryl Rausch wrote in a letter supporting Hollis' nomination, that Hollis is one of those people who is small in stature but whose dedication to others is second to none.
With nearly 26 gallons of blood donated to American Red Cross, Bausman has been donating blood for about the same amount of time he has been fighting fires.
Over the years, Bausman has made many trips to Madison to donate in Red Cross' apherisis program.
Additionally, Bausman has assisted in building five Green County Habitat for Humanity homes, volunteered as a skilled foreman on community built playgrounds in Monroe (Swiss ALPS Playground) and Cottage Grove, and coached youth softball for Monroe's Parks and Recreation Department.
He is a dedicated volunteer to the Apostolate to the Handicapped and volunteers monthly at a food pantry sponsored by St. Victor Catholic Church and St. Vincent de Paul in Monroe.
Bausman guided his nephew, VanNatta, through his Eagle Scout project and is a large part of the reason VanNatta became an Eagle Scout at age of 14.
VanNatta, 17, is an high honors student at Monroe High School. He belongs to the National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Boy Scout Troop 101, Venturing Crew 1812, Order of the Arrow (considered the National Honor Society of scouting), plays football, is in Forensics, and is bookkeeper for Monroe's basketball program.
VanNatta volunteers to help young scouts get started on the right foot down their scouting path. He is currently vice president of administration of Crew 1812 and chapter secretary in Order of the Arrow.
A long-time volunteer for Apostolate to the Handicapped, VanNatta is an Acolyte and Lector for television masses and at Apostolate events. VanNatta is also an acolyte at St. Victor Catholic Church.
Additionally, he volunteers for the Monroe Kiwanis, Troop 101's charter organization.
For the past two years, VanNatta has volunteered to tutor a youth, who has Asperger's Disorder and ADHD, through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Green County School Based Mentoring program.
It is estimated that besides school and working part-time at Dairy Queen in Monroe, VanNatta volunteers almost 300 hours per year.