To the editor:

Just recently, I crossed paths with two extraordinary men at a city council meeting in Sleepy Eye (Oct.17, 2019).

As I sat and listen to both of these men’s comments, I was inspired by not only what they said, but also the meaning behind the words.

The first was Councilman Larry Braun of Sleepy Eye. He has been under attack for well over three years. He has taken it on the chin many times and is still standing. As I sat in the city council chambers, I was drawn to his calm, kind, unwavering demeanor. A man with such integrity, grace and steadfast convictions in his every word.

I sadly listened to his co-councilmen/women serve him up to the community on a platter. This was based on an email, dated back to December 2018, and for whatever reason, only came to light in the midsummer of 2019. The email was based on a “he said, she said” sort of a phone conversation between Councilor Braun and a city vendor. There was no concrete evidence presented to me, or the citizens of Sleepy Eye that justified the findings and decisions bestowed on the Councilman Braun. One thing I know for sure is this: all people’s past behavior are the best indicator/predictor of all people’s future behavior. That in itself did not support the recent or past allegations against Councilor Larry Braun.

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at what ever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost. (Arthur Ashe) This embodies who Councilor Larry Braun is.

The other man is the Chuck Forster. He seems to know where all the skeletons are buried. His comments seemed to strike a core with me and others in the chambers that night. He was saying what we all were thinking: “How much did this investigation cost the citizens of Sleepy Eye, that we need to get rid of all the sitting councilors, and replace them with people who will serve the people of Sleepy Eye,” and many more. His unfiltered comments reverberated throughout the chambers, to the dismay of the mayor, other council members, city manager and city attorney.

So during this dark October day in Sleepy Eye, these Two Heroes emerge.

My own heroes are the dreamers, those men and women who tried to make the world a better place than what they found it, whether it in a small way or a big one. Some succeeded, some failed, most had mixed results… but it is the effort that’s heroic, as I see it. Win or lose, I admire those who fight a good fight. (George R.R. Marline)

That’s why we can’t give up. Heroes don’t give up. (Kera Cass)

Reg Wick

Sleepy Eye