Our hearts broke as we watched the tragic events unfold involving 15-year-old Mason Flores, who suffered a severe brain injury during a Sweet Home junior varsity football game on Sept. 28.
Mason was flown to Portland in an emergency attempt to save his life, but doctors determined that his life could not be saved.
Mason’s mother, Jenna Anderson, made the remarkably difficult decision to donate his organs so that other Oregonians could live.
Mason passed away Oct. 5, on his 16th birthday.
It is heartbreaking to even fathom what a difficult choice this was for his grieving mother.
The Sweet Home community immediately came together to do whatever it could to help her and her family with medical bills and funeral expenses.
Rebecca Burgin, Anderson’s employer, started a GoFundMe campaign called “Mason Flores #8 RIP.” In just six days, it raised more than $79,000 from 886 donations.
On Oct. 6, a procession of first-responder vehicles from multiple agencies escorted Mason’s body from Portland back to Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. The vehicles blared their sirens while members of the community lined the streets to pay their respects.
Sweet Home Choppers, a local motorcycle dealership, quickly organized a motorcycle ride Friday night for homecoming. More than 60 bikes showed up.
The Philomath High School football program joined other programs across the Willamette Valley, including Cascade and Junction City, in posting memorials on social media.
Philomath’s post read: “#8 In Loving Memory of Mason Flores — Our Philomath Warrior Football family is thinking of Mason’s family, friends, teammates, and the entire Sweet Home community. We are sending our love, strength, and support during this incredibly difficult time.”
The Warriors also wore stickers with Mason’s No. 8 on their helmets during Thursday night’s game against the Gladstone Gladiators.
While Philomath and Sweet Home have long been sports rivals, we should all be heartened by the care and unity our Warrior football program has shown toward our neighboring school district in the face of this tragedy.
A member of Mason’s family released a statement saying, “Mason’s mom has told me that her heart feels full because of all the people who have shown up for her and her son.”
Philomath stands Sweet Home strong.
Eric Niemann
Philomath