To the editor:

Thanks to the UCC, The Grand and the Brown County Historical Society. I wish to thank publicly all the past and present members of the United Church of Christ, formerly the First Congregational Church, who built and maintained such a welcoming congregation for more than a hundred years. It’s where I was baptized and confirmed — at Third South and Minnesota Street.

Its members recently determined that it was time to close the parish. The members, following Jesus’ teachings, donated the land and building and the beautiful Granlund “La Familia II” to others. There was no sale.

As The Journal so well reported, the Granlund sculpture was originally purchased as a gift to the UCC by its members in memory and honor of my mother Marjorie Fleck Gislason following her death in 1978 at the age of 68. She was a dynamic woman, a mother of three, a teacher, an ambassador, a healing companion, a friend to many and a leader. She was born and raised in Minneapolis, and after earning degrees at Minnesota and Syracuse Universities, she taught school in Renville, MN. While there she was introduced to my father whom she married in 1937.

Like “La Familia” she believed in the strength of family. She believed in the wisdom and purpose of all people; she was interested in their lives. I feel in my heart that she is delighted by the gift to The Grand. Thank you to all at The Grand for accepting the gift and offering an invitation to everyone to view and appreciate this amazing work by Paul Granlund, in addition to all the other fine art displayed in such an historic New Ulm setting.

I also want to thank all the leadership, staff and members of the Brown County Historical Society, which has, over decades, celebrated Women’s History Month by presenting an informative and celebratory luncheon to our community about incredible women — historical figures — from Brown County, our state, and the nation. This year the program is DO TELL. Many of the women honored earlier by the AAUW and for many years by our own historical society would remain unknown but for these annual events. Thank you all for your creativity and hard work necessary to make each event a success.

Dan Gislason

Minnetonka