On Aug. 5, I returned to Austin to visit the Mower County Fair. Having been born and raised in Austin, I wanted my daughter to experience a summer tradition.

During our visit, we stopped at the firefighters’ museum so I could show my daughter her grandfather’s picture. Imagine my surprise when I realized the picture, along with 11 other pictures, had been removed from the display case. Those pictures were in that case for 20 years.

Who removed these pictures and why? I find it a bit disturbing someone would do that, but unfortunately they did. Ask any one of those 12 men and they would say it’s not a big deal. It is a big deal. Those men proudly and selflessly served the city of Austin for 20 to 30 years, risking their lives every time they responded to a call. They are an important part of a wonderful community’s history. I implore the Mower County Fair Board and/or Historical Society to please return those pictures to the display case where they were for years. Those men earned their place there.

Laura Speltz,

Winona