The 2025 Grand Marshal will be announced at the celebration of Pride in the Park.

Saara Raapana was the kind of person who made everyone feel safe around her, no matter what was going on in your life. During the 2021 Pride celebration, she approached members of the planning committee to ask how her small business could support Pride in future years. She said she saw the value in what we were doing and how we were going to make people feel welcome in the community. She said if someone didn't support her business because they didn't like Pride, she didn't think they needed to be a part of the space she was trying to create. 

In 2022, Saara's business sponsored the first Marshall Pride 5k. With laughter and a lot of lessons about how many corners are typical in a 5k, the race was a fun part of growing Marshall Pride. 

After facing off against cancer, Saara passed away shortly before 2024 Marshall Pride. She was posthumously honored as Grand Marshal for the 2024 celebration. 

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Memories Saara's Spouse Eric

I'm so grateful for this recognition of Saara and also, of course, so sad that she can't be here to receive it herself. She would have been overjoyed but also confused because for Saara, this is just what you do as a community member. 

Two years ago, when Saara and her then business partner offered to help with Pride, she came home and told me people wanted a 5k, so they were putting on a 5k. I asked, "Have any of you ever organized a 5k?" "No." "Have any of you ever run a 5k?" "No, but I'll just google it." And she did. Because that's what Saara did. She figured out what people needed, and she found out how to get it to them. And that was especially true for folks who aren't celebrated as often as they should be.

Saara was an expert community builder, and she had no interest in being part of a community that excluded people for who they are fundamentally, that asked folks to hide who they are. She knew that when we recognize everyone's humanity more, we all become more human. And that in order to make that recognition happen, it's not about widening our circle to bring those outside into the margin so much as it is moving the center to where the excluded are. 

So in that spirit, I hope that our LGBTQIA+ community members feel centered, every day but especially today. I hope you feel as fully seen as you want to be, every day but especially today. I hope you feel your humanity is fully recognized, every day but especially today. Saara (and many others of us) knew our community is incomplete without you.

-Remarks made by Eric Doise, Saara Raapana's husband during the Grand Marshal ceremony in 2024

Sue Morton has been a pillar of the organizing community around LGBTQ+ rights in the Marshall area for decades. As the current chair of the PFLAG-Marshall-Buffalo Ridge chapter and a co-founder of Marshall Pride, Sue stands firmly as an ally to the community. 

Jan and Cathy continue to be fierce supporters of the LGBTQ+ community in Marshall. These former PFLAG-Marshall-Buffalo Ridge leaders organized potlucks and support to the members of the queer community who have always lived in this area. 

Char was the co-founder of PFLAG Marshall Buffalo Ridge having been an strong ally long before the group organized.  She was a caring individual who spoke openly about tough issues and continues throughout her to teach others about those issues.  Char was a courageous woman always willing to confront any issue or controversy though respectful conversations  Her teaching, advocacy and mentoring for and with the LGBTQ+ community has led us to today’s open and visible celebration of who we are. 

Vicky Brockman, Professors at SMSU, recalls that “Char’s presentations and passion for LGBTQ issues and social justice at SMSU is seared in my memory .  She never refused an invitation to campus and invited herself! Our students were so grateful.  Thank you Char and Rest in Peace.”

Darwin Dyce, former educator and community activist, shared these thoughts: “Safe journey dear Char.  I recall your presence in so many MAPS actions.  One in particular that brings a fond remembrance and smile is when you rented a popcorn machine so that we could put inspirational peace and justice quotes  on each bag and gave them out to anyone who wanted popcorn.  That took place on a beautiful summer evening at the Marshall bandshell.  Your goodness continues to ripple into the future.”

We celebrate our friend Char with continuation of her good work.

-Written by Sue Morton, Community Organizer, Storyteller

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Memories from Community Members

It's hard to pin down Char. She was hilarious, funny as hell and could stop someone in their tracks like no one else. She had a huge laugh and was very naughty. She could cuss like a sailor while smiling. She was fierce and righteous in her anger at inequity. I saw her tire of the fight but I never saw her give up.

Char could be scary as hell. She was tall, a goddess and had worked in a Catholic school so she could channel that energy.

A favorite Char story was when I had lived here a couple of years and had taken on the role of running PFLAG meetings. Cathy, Jan, Char and I had wrangled a meeting with our then state Rep. Marty Seifert. He agreed to finally meet with us, so here we were having coffee at Perkins in Marshall. Marty was visibly shaken by us, having difficulty even holding his glass. I don’t remember anything being resolved in any way, but I do clearly remember Char turning on all her charm, (and she was beautiful, smart, so well spoken and charming like a python). Marty left and Char, with big eyes, looked at the three of us and exclaimed about how he was so frightened by a bunch of soccer moms! So far from the truth but said in her exasperated and deadpan way.

Char was a fierce and amazing broad in every best sense of the word. She made staying in Marshall as possibility for me and mine.

-Roberta Wyatt, Marshall Resident, former business owner, organizer and activist