November 1, 2005

Hi All,
My final week in LA was a busy one. On Sunday (10/23) we were up by 5:30 and loading the canteen with supplies to feed 125 troops camping out at the Notre Dame Seminary. Prejeans, the NO restaurant that supplies breakfast and dinner for the tent city at the base has donated 3 large containers of chopped onions, green peppers and red peppers. We have 250 hot Italian sausage links and brats to serve the troops along with nachos w/chili, cheese and jalapeno's. Because the sausage takes longer to cook, we decided to pre-cook prior to hitting the road figuring the top to the cooker would allow the brats to steam as we drove. We head out from Belle Chase around 1100 and were set to feed the troops by 1400. Our first canteen disaster finally happened. We were detoured through a very narrow space due to a bridge being washed out. Unfortunately the canteen was too wide and we ended up on the curb - bouncing all over the place. The sausage and brats went flying, along with the peppers and onions. Quite frankly it looked like someone had 'upchucked' all over the back of the canteen. There wasn't much I could do but to tell Judy just keep driving.

Turns out we were only a few blocks from the seminary. Once we got there, we pulled out the supplies, pulled out the carpet and hosed it down, then hosed down the interior of the canteen. All in all we only lost a few brats, but it took almost an hour to get everything cleaned up and ready so we could start cooking again. It was days before the overwhelming smell of onions and peppers diminished.

The Seminary had some flooding on the first floor and the dryers were still running. It did not look like much happened on the first floor, maybe some storage, etc., but the church and class rooms, etc. all started on the second floor which was not damaged. This neighborhood is a hugh contrast between damaged and undamaged - the NG had done a tremendous job of cleaning up the seminary. The river had flooded through the central courtyard bring along with it mass quantities of debris. Koi that were in the courtyard fountain ended up in the swimming pool, along with live fish from the river. One of the NG guys was a landscaper in a previous life and he made it his job to clean up the grounds, empty the pool and restore it so that the troops could swim in it. Rather than shocking the pool, he elected to clean it by hand, thus saving the koi and fish - he then replaced them back in the courtyard fountain. This young man proudly told me that he has not lost a single fish! and that the priests were very grateful that he was able to put the courtyard back to 'normal.'

After touring the exterior, I went into the seminary. The church is beautiful - painted ceilings, gorgeous stained glass windows, spectacular stations of the cross. I was only allowed to tour the main floor - the troops were sleeping on the floors above and that is where the priests' private sleeping quarters are. Art work hangs on the walls, antique furniture throughout, photographs of the Pope, etc. was placed throughout.

I was amazed that looters had not touched a thing. I then went out the front door of the seminary, walked across the grounds that still had flowers blooming and crossed the main street to take pictures of the houses on the other side of the road. Two large homes had been burnt to the ground by looters - one was the home of the retired Arch Bishop. I was awestruck - how can looters completely destroy one building, yet a place full of valuables is left totally untouched. I truly believe there are miracles and this was one of them!

...

On Monday, Judy and I headed back down to Venice to feed the troops located in the school. This is the group that does not have running water and usually eat MRE's. They were thrilled that the USO was going to provide a hot meal, especially junk food - nachos and hot dogs. We had two volunteers along with us - Tom (who is considering taking the job of NO Director) and a nun, Sister Renee. It was their first time through all the destruction and they were affected by it as we were the first time.

I have to tell you that is was not any easier to view the destruction a second time. Little has been done, except bulldozers were busy leveling areas into piles and loading up dump trucks. This was being done in the upper region only - the area by Venice was still the same. St. Ann's Catholic Church still has Mary standing vigil, the shrimp boats still resting on the road. Orchards that had some green showing the previous week are now all brown. I cannot even fathom how restoration will begin. Judy and I vow that we will return in a year to see the changes that will hopefully take place. I would like nothing more that to be able to attend mass at St. Ann's.

We return to Belle Chasse in time to open the center. We are now getting between 60 to 70 visitors a night, many of them regulars that we know by name. A lot of our regulars are getting ready to go home, being replaced by new troops from different states.

Tuesday we have 4 soldiers come to the center and help us load pallets of diapers, formula, toys, etc. and take them to the base family center. We set tarps on the ground and place the items out. At 9AM the center opens - inside is the Red Cross, FEMA, Food Stamps, etc. for those who need assistance. The families then come outside and go through our supplies taking what they need. Some take only one item and some take box loads. By noon we are down to a few small boxes of sheets and fresh wipes, which Judy takes to the Red Cross station just down from the main gate. Tuesday afternoon we feed 560 National Guard from 1400 until around 1830. We served over 1000 hotdogs and too many orders of nachos to count. We opened the center at 1400 so the guys sat around and played cards, watched movies and relaxed.

Wednesday is restocking day and a day to give the canteen a thorough cleaning - we also cleaned up the center - vacuuming the cement floor, getting rid of the ever present dust and dirt. I should mention that tent city is now just a few feet from our space - we no longer have any privacy - activity all around us 24 hours a day.

Thursay, Judy and I were invited to take a tour by mule drawn wagon around New Orleans. We felt guilty taking the time, for about 1/2 hour, then really got into a day of relaxation. We started with hot chocolate and beinets at Cafe du Mode, attended mass at St. Louis cathedral (attended by us and 2 others). Then Tom met us in his wagon and took us through the city. Folks came up to us and thanked us for visiting NO. They yelled from their windows, from the side of the street, from their shops, telling us how much it meant to them to hear the horse hooves on the streets again. New Orleans is a beautiful city with a lot of history and I am grateful to Tom for giving us a different picture than we had prior to this day. Judy and I said farewell to Tom around 3PM, then did some shopping. We ended up at Irene's for dinner - a wonderful italian restaurant in the heart of the French Quarter. I cannot tell you how nice it was not to have a hot dog or order of nachos in sight, no flies and no dirt. It was heaven to drink a fine wine from a goblet and to eat dinner with a real fork and knife. The food was divine!

Friday we were back on schedule - we had 125 to feed at the NO school of arts. This group was from California. They also invited about 30 firemen who were in from Oklahoma. Turns out the fireman are getting paid $200 per day, plus room and board, to be available in the event a forest fire breaks out, or if the NO fire department needs assistance. They will be in NO for 6 months - 2 months aleady served (not a single fire yet)!

On the way home Judy and I got lost and ended up in Slidell in an area without electricity. It was pretty scary at one point - we ended up at the end of a one way road - road closed ahead and the only way to go was under a bunch of bridges without any lights around. We ended up going back up the one way street and found our way out in about 5 minutes, but both of us definitely breathed a sigh of relief.

Saturday is my final day - my flight heads out at 6PM. I am up at 0530 and load 250 care packages in the suburban. Judy and I are heading over to Algiers to drop off the packages to the National Guard coming in from Colorado. They are relieving the guard from California who will be heading home. Turns out that Colorado was one of the first groups to arrive in NO and they are returning for their second tour of duty. I think they were surprised at how much headway has been made in the area.

When I commented that the spot we were standing in didn't look too bad, the troops said that it was once totally under water. They talked about not being able to go anywhere without traveling through several feet of water - now everything is dry. They are looking forward to getting back on the streets and talking to the locals they helped on their first trip.

I am sad about leaving - still too much to be done. Between the two of us we handed out approx. 2,750 care packages, cooked several thousand hot dogs, cases of nachos and more cases of soft drinks than I can remember. I leave with a great respect for our troops that have put aside their personal lives in order to help LA recover. I will always have a special place in my heart for the people of Louisiana - not once did I meet someone who cried about what they lost - instead they talked about what they were able to save. These are people who talk about rebuilding, regardless of how much work it will take. Even when shopping at Walmart, when it took hours to get through the lines, I did not hear a rude word spoken, did not see anyone cutting someone off in line. When I spoke to the sales staff and asked them how they faired through the storm- they spoke of losing all they owned, yet they were back at work with smiles on their faces. I am not sure I would be so pleasant if I had lost everything, let alone not break down in tears!

I have no doubts that the people of LA have the strength and courage to face whatever life has instore for them. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the chance to share a small part of this experience with them. I am a better person because of it. Thanks to all of you for your support and prayers.

Carol