Walk into the Clare Community Center and a big axe on one wall just might catch your eye.

That axe is part of a larger tribute to some of the town’s volunteer firefighters.

The tribute is about four feet long and a little over two feet high. It features the names of the original15 firefighters who formed the local fire department in 1962. It also has space to list the names of other long-serving firefighters who have retired or died. The axe that is part of the display came from the Clare Fire Department. It was polished and a Maltese cross, the traditional symbol of fire departments and firefighters nationwide, was engraved in it.

The display was the idea of Richard Allen, who was a Clare firefighter for 45 years. He used wood from a walnut tree on his property to make it.

He freely admits he had a lot of help with the project. Industrial arts students at Manson Northwest Webster High School cut the wood. Students at Iowa Central Community College engraved the axe, which was polished by a neighbor of Allen’s who is a machinist.

It is a worthwhile honor for a dedicated group of people who were volunteers that served their community with professionalism. Starting a fire department from scratch, as the first 15 firefighters did, is remarkable. In fact, one is left to wonder if doing that would even be possible today.

After getting the department started, they went to went to work for their community, relying on their training, bravery and physical stamina. It’s true that Clare volunteer firefighters go to a lot fewer calls then their counterparts in bigger communities, but each call poses it own unique threats. And putting out a field fire on a July afternoon in Iowa can be as grueling as dragging hose up the stairs of a big city high rise.

The tribute in the Community Center will remind future generations of the service of the local volunteer firefighters.

We salute all of the volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel who serve our area communities.