I watched several shows this past weekend remembering Katrina, and virtually none of the coverage focused on Mississippi. Mississippi didn’t just get hit with some wind and some flooding; it got hit by a tsunami. Entire towns were literally wiped off the face of the earth. Storm winds tore through all of southern Mississippi for 150 miles wreaking havoc, cutting off power and killing people. In Jackson, where I live, 150 miles north of the coast, many people were without power for weeks. Gasoline was rationed. Days after the storm, I traveled to Pascagoula, Ms, which was 100 miles east of the epicenter, to help some friends save some of their belongings. It was a war zone. Attached is a picture of the coast of Pascagoula with nothing left but rubble. However, as you can see from the picture, the storm did not dampen the spirit of the Americans living there. There were American flags everywhere, and the people were upbeat, courageous and working together. My friends gathered around a broken spicket in the neighborhood for water to drink and shower. They lived in their drive ways and barbequed. There was no fussing about their predicament. There was true American grit. I came away humbled by their spirit. So, remember New Orleans, but remember Mississippi too. Home of the brave!
