Muscatine soldier statue treatment a travesty

The March 27 headline, “Muscatine soldier statue comes down” should have read “Statue destroyed by local well-intentioned individuals.” These folks are not friends of history! This statue did not crumble; it was torn apart.

Not a proud moment for those men that this Civil War statue has so proudly honored for 135 years. You give a bad name to preservationists across the globe.

Had your committee spent some money to bring in a conservator to assess the best way to remove the statue, little or no damage would have taken place.

What is really sad: This travesty may have others in area communities mulling how they can spruce up (destroy) some of their local history. What were you folks thinking?

Your soldier may have been old and he may have been deteriorating but he still stood on his own two legs and held that musket proudly. I trust that I am not the only one a bit sickened by this whole affair. You can and will replace that soldier but believe me it will never be the same.

Bradley S. McGowan

Past Iowa Department Commander

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Kalona