Letter to the Editor: In a word PROUD

I have been the mayor of Garrison only since January of this year. I cannot believe all that has been accomplished already this year. Our fire station has been rebuilt from the storm of July 11th of last year, we have a new park thanks to Mandy and Shaun Fisher and family, Becky Decker and the many volunteers and donors. While I won't argue we have a long way to go. I see a new pride building in our community. Which brings me to RAGBRAI.

I gotta admit to more than a little apprehension having something so big in our little town, but Becky Decker, Cora Flickinger, and Mandy Fisher alsong with a team of volunteers, our non profits and Joe and Deb Kruse, owners of our only bar, The Hitchin Post organized a team.

What I witnessed on Thursday July 26, 2012 was pretty amazing. At 5:30 a.m. our pagers went off. Our tents had blown down...I think maybe we need to be nicknamed the "Little Windy City". Our team of firemen, their families, and the many town people, came together to put it all back up and prepare for the onslaught of many, many bicyclist, and did they start coming.

At around 6:00 am, there were a few at first, then more, then WOW! People from one end of town to the other and all the way out of town estimates from 14-30,000 people and all of this in a town of around 300!

I met a man from Kenya, others met people from Australia, Bulgaria, England and Canada...all over the the world and every state I do believe.

Our towns people came together and formed a team that simply put, just did it.

I also want to thank all of the home owners who had their property invaded by bicyclists looking for a little shade.

In good times and bad times, our little town has always worked together with responding to a house fire the very next morning after a historical wind storm, building a new park, RAGBRAI, andto a Fire Chief (Steve Meyer) who has had more on his plate than any volunteer chief should ever have, and finally to all the fine people of Garrison, Iowa...THANK YOU!

Which brings me back to this. As mayor, I am in a word, PROUD!

Mayor Allan R. Lindsey

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CB August 9, 2012, 10:18 pm Thank you for a moving, positive message. You should all be proud of your accomplishments. Keep up the great work Garrison citizens!!

HFW August 10, 2012, 12:42 am I grew up coming to Iowa from Illinois for family reunions and vacations in August. My parents grew up in Traer and Vinton. Alan is my cousin and I am very in a word, \"Proud\" he is doing such great job in his hometown of Garrison, which I visited as a youth and enjoyed the peace and beauty of that small little town, as we visiting with Alan, Uncle Frank, Aunt Ruth, Alan\'s parents. I wish I could have been there to see this big event happen, how exciting that must of been. As with the Olympics that came to Salt Lake and getting to see it now from London, I am amazed at all the cultures, friends and amazing people like Alan and Local people who localy come together take the opportunity to be apart of something that may not ever be experienced, or lived through again and do it through a a bit of a disaster. As with the Olympics these kind of events are amazing and will be talked about and heartfelt through out the years. Our little local communities are so important, and when planned well for such events we can experience many other great people from different parts of the world and introduce them to ours. These are wonderful opportunities taken advantage of. Good work to all of Garrison..Woo hoo..and a hats off to you. P.S. Grandma Lindsey would be proud of you Alan, and your town, you should be too. Heidi Franklin Williams West Jordan, Utah

BD August 10, 2012, 7:01 pm Your doing a great job Al thanks for all the mayors help through this nice job on the letter.

ME August 14, 2012, 12:42 pm Allan,
I am so 0proud of you and all you are trying to do for my home town.
Aunt Maria

Opinion : Letter to the Editor: In a word PROUD

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