Five-year-old Harvey Wetterlund has made plenty of friends around Hastings simply by doing something that comes naturally to him, saying hello. On Sept. 29, the City of Hastings made his unofficial role around town a little more official when Mayor Mary Fasbender presented Harvey with a key to the city and proclaimed him an honorary five-year-old community ambassador and official greeter. The recognition honored a youngster whose daily walks, friendly greetings and enthusiasm have made him a familiar face at businesses and among police officers, firefighters and others throughout the community.
The recognition came after Harvey’s outgoing personality and his habit of greeting people around Hastings gained wider attention through a television feature about his daily walking route. For those who regularly see Harvey around town, however, his ability to connect with people was hardly a surprise. “Harvey Wetterlund is a remarkable five-year-old whose kindness, enthusiasm, and friendly spirit have made him a familiar and beloved presence in the community,” Fasbender read from the proclamation.
The proclamation described Harvey’s regular visits with members of the Hastings police and fire departments, along with his stops to greet people at local businesses and others he encounters during his walks. “At five years old, Harvey has demonstrated an extraordinary understanding of something that brings people together with a smile, a friendly greeting, and taking the time to make someone feel welcome,” Fasbender read.
His recognition came with more than a proclamation and key to the city. Harvey also received a child-sized wooden chair created especially for him by longtime Hastings resident Bob Ruedy and painted by artist Tom Schmitt. Ruedy’s friendship with Harvey began during one of Harvey’s visits, when Harvey’s mother, Joy Wetterlund, encouraged him to give “Mr. Bob” a high five. Harvey had another idea. “Instead of giving me a high five he comes over and gives me a big hug,” Ruedy said.
That greeting helped begin a friendship that has continued as Harvey has made his rounds through the community. Ruedy has been building the wooden chairs for years, often working with Schmitt, who handles the artwork. He said the woodworking itself generally takes a couple of days, while painting the chair can take longer. Many of the chairs Ruedy has made over the years have been donated for causes and fundraisers, although he has sold some as well.
Making one specifically for Harvey, however, carried a different meaning for Ruedy. “Well, it's great,” he said. “I got grandsons out in Colorado, grandkids out in Colorado, and to see him, he's my surrogate grandkid here in town. So it's been fantastic.”
Harvey appeared pleased with the newest piece of furniture waiting to find a place in his home. When asked how he felt about the chair made for him by Ruedy and Schmitt, his answer was simple. “I love it,” Harvey said. His father, Ryan Wetterlund, said the family would find a spot for the chair inside their home, with the living room or Harvey’s bedroom among the possibilities.
Harvey’s affection for the people he meets, and the affection they have shown him in return, was at the heart of the city’s recognition. During the proclamation, Fasbender noted that his example shows making a difference does not depend on age. “Harvey's daily acts of kindness have earned him affection and recognition of those around him, proving that making a difference in a community does not require being a grown-up,” Fasbender read. “It simply requires a good heart and a willingness to say hello.”
The proclamation also recognized Harvey for demonstrating how small interactions can help create a stronger community. “Harvey reminds us all that community has built one person, one smile, and one greeting at a time,” Fasbender said. That community was represented around Harvey as photos were taken following the presentation, with familiar faces gathering around his new chair, including people Harvey has come to know through the regular stops and greetings that have become part of his routine.
For Harvey, the explanation for why he keeps doing it remains much less complicated than a city proclamation. When asked what it feels like to have so many friends around Hastings, Harvey said, “I like them.” Asked what he would tell other people about smiling, being kind and getting along with those around them, Harvey again boiled the idea down to something simple: “Friends to everybody.”
For a five-year-old who has built a reputation around Hastings one greeting at a time, it may have been the best explanation of all.