The public is invited to a reception recognizing Dr. Mabel Schumacher as a National Daughters of the American Revolution [DAR] Medal of Honor recipient.
The open house will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, at the American Legion Post 166 Dugout in Fort Atkinson. A ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m.
The Medal of Honor is the most prestigious recognition given by the DAR. It is presented to a United States citizen by birth who has shown extraordinary qualities of leadership, trustworthiness, service and patriotism.
“The recipient must have made unusual and lasting contributions to our American heritage by truly giving of himself or herself to his or her community, state, country, and fellow man,” according to the Fort Atkinson-Eli Pierce Chapter of DAR, which is sponsoring Schumacher’s award.
The 1962 Whitewater High School co-valedictorian and a Fort Atkinson resident since 1993, Schumacher worked as director of instruction for the School District of Fort Atkinson. She has been active in the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson, Tuesday Club, the Wisconsin School Public Relations Association and many other organizations.
During the past three decades, Schumacher has initiated a variety of community and statewide projects, most recently the new World War II memorial, titled “Worth Fighting For,” located in McCoy Park. She also spearheaded creation of the nearby K-9 War Dog Memorial that salutes Marine Corps Lance Corporal Terry Beck and his German Shepherd scout dog, “Seato,” both of whom were killed in action in 1967 during the Vietnam War.
Schumacher helped establish the endowed Terry Beck Protective Services Scholarship Fund at the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation and, in 2015, was the driving force for March 13 being commemorated as Wisconsin K-9 Veterans Day.
Through Schumacher’s efforts, the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson placed a dog drinking fountain and dog sculpture on the 2.2-mile Glacial River Trail in Fort Atkinson in 2011, as well as the “Puppy Serenade” sculpture in Rock River Park in 2021. In addition, Schumacher has been a generous supporter of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Atkinson Police Department’s K-9 Units.
In 2023, the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation presented Schumacher with its Making Fort Special award.
Organized in 1899, the Fort Atkinson Chapter of DAR was one of the earliest and largest chapters in Wisconsin for many years. In 1992, it merged with the Eli Pierce Chapter, which was founded in Whitewater in 1941.
Today, chapter members reside in Fort Atkinson, Watertown, Lake Mills, Jefferson, Whitewater, Milton, Janesville and surrounding communities, as well as in several other states.
