The Marion Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating milestones and our business community at its 101^st annual awards celebration on June 24th, 2022 at the Pavilion in Marion (rescheduled from January 14).  The program will feature presentations by the Chamber, elected officials, and our 2021 award winners. 

The Mayor’s service award is given annually to an individual or in this case individuals who go above and beyond what is asked of them to make a difference in our community. This year’s recipients are so much more deserving than this one award. These individuals are fighting for the well-being of our community on a daily basis. This year’s recipients of the Mayor’s Service Award are the Healthcare Heroes of Heartland Regional Medical Center. 

These doctors, nurses, and staff members have responded valiantly throughout the pandemic to fight for the lives of our loved ones. Not one of them asked for this pandemic and the strain it must put on their mental and physical well-being is hard to imagine. Mayor Michael Absher reflected on their service,

“I thank them today, and everyday not just for their response to the pandemic, but their commitment to making our community healthier, for fighting day in and day out for our loved ones, and for being a reliable, trustworthy source of healthcare in our community.” 

Our area is fortunate to have them and we could not be more grateful for their endurance to continue to respond to this pandemic. While we have heroes fighting for our freedom around the world, the pandemic has shown that we have heroes right here, working hard everyday to respond to one of the greatest domestic threats we’ve seen in some time. In our community, every family knows someone in the healthcare field. Show your appreciation by taking a moment to thank them for the irreplaceable work they are doing to protect our community. “To all of you, thank you.”

The first Mayor’s Service Award was given in 1996 to Elfora Aikman. Last year’s recipients were Marion United.