Madison, "The Town" that has been called the "Typical American Small Town" selected in WWII and the current conflict to be filmed and shown to the troops. “The Town,” which was designed to remind the troops of the American way of life they were defending.

The entire downtown (over 2,000 structures) is on the National Historic Register. Madison is a City with the designation of National Historic Landmark District. The city has been recognized as one of a "Dozen Distinguished Destinations" in America. The Ladies Home Journal has called Madison "the prettiest small town in the Midwest." Midwest Living has named Madison #4 in its listing of the top 100 Places to Visit in the Midwest! And a Main Street second to none.

I want to visit the issue of "The Town" Christmas Tree one more time and then I'll drop it. The City of Madison and Jefferson County neither of which claim nor want to get involved with "The Town" tree. I can't figure out why there is such non involvement of those elected to care for "our town". Thus "our town" ended up with a poor distraught Christmas tree on the courthouse lawn. Some were ashamed to look at it, others turned their heads as they passed by.

A group gathered to attempt to fix the Christmas Tree . No help from the city our county could be had except for Judge Hoying who bought lunch for those who were weathering the cold working on the tree.

A town that has been selected to make the troops feel better about themselves, a town designated as "the prettiest small town in the Midwest" should have a Merry Christmas Tree instead of a tree that is an insult to Christmas and "the town". Those trying to save the "Charlie Brown Christmas tree" have done their very best with what they had to work with and our local government has done their very best to ignore "Our Town Tree".