U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan of Indiana presented the Carnegie Medal to Sara Schaller at a private presentation on Tuesday, April 22, at the congressional district office in Merrillville, Indiana. Schaller was joined by her daughter, pictured holding the medal. Her parents also traveled from out-of-state to attend the ceremony.
Schaller was awarded the medal in June after she saved a 14-year-old girl from drowning in Lake Michigan near Porter, Indiana, one year earlier.
The girl and her 18-year-old cousin were swimming when a rip current swept them away from shore to a point about 300 feet out in cold water about 10 feet deep. Sara Schaller, a 42-year-old veterinary nurse from Hammond, Indiana, was walking on the beach with her 4-year-old daughter when she was alerted to the situation. Schaller asked a woman to watch her daughter and waded out into the surf as waves crashed down on her. The water deepened and Schaller swam to the girl, who by then was fading in and out of consciousness. She grabbed the girl under both arms and swam about 150 feet toward the beach until she touched bottom on a sandbar. Schaller slowly dragged the girl to shallow water as waves crashed over them and eventually pulled her to the beach. Another beachgoer swam out to the cousin, who was unresponsive and had been washed closer to the shore by the waves. The cousin was brought back to shore with the help of others and was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Paramedics treated the girl and she recovered at the hospital. Schaller was nearly exhausted but uninjured.
During a U.S. House of Representatives session, separate from the presentation, Mrvan recognized Schaller’s rescue. After describing the events that occurred, Mrvan praised Schaller and expressed how proud he was proud to have the chance to present the medal to her.
“It was my honor to invite Sara to my office to present her with the Carnegie Medal,” said Mrvan. “Sara was raised by a family of first responders who were not surprised at her ability and willingness to act at a moment’s notice to help someone in need. Truly a ‘hometown hero,’ Sara Schaller is worthy of the highest praise.”
