Two Blackwater R-2 students were honored by state representatives during the school’s Veterans’ Day ceremony last week.

On August 6, AJ Massa and Mason Harvey came upon a man trapped under a riding lawn mower, with its motor running and blades spinning. Harvey was able to safely crawl under the mower and turn it off. He then called his father, Jason, a first responder with the Blackwater Fire Department. The two teens pushed the lawn mower up and off the man, and he was able to breath and speak again. Blackwater Fire arrived on scene and took command.

Massa is a seventh-grader from Blackwater; and Harvey is an eighth-grader from Nelson.

A message from the district says, “We are so proud of AJ Massa and Mason Harvey for receiving a hero’s resolution from the Missouri House of Representatives for their life-saving actions that saved a man’s life. Thank you to Representative Chuck Basye for making the presentation. Thanks also to Tanner Fahrendorf for contacting Representative Tim Taylor and getting these resolutions passed.”

Bayse said, “On behalf of my colleague, Representative Tim Taylor, I was honored to attend the Veterans’ Day 2021 program this morning at the Blackwater R-II School District. What a great event full of patriotism and appreciation for the United States of America!! Also, I presented Missouri House Resolutions to A. J. Massa and Mason Harvey for actions they took in August 2021 helping a man who was injured badly in a lawnmower accident.”

Photo courtesy Blackwater R-2 School District.