A Bright Spot In The Storm

Sept. 21, 2005

A bright spot in the storm. That is what today was.

Today we got to give the 650 members of the 82nd Airborne a steak dinner on their one day off. They have been here in New Orleans since Katrina hit. They have been patrolling the 9th ward, the French Quarter and the CBD non-stop. Not an easy assignment but for them, a privilege to do what they are trained to do to assist people here in the United States. The 82nd Airborne had just returned from Iraq when President Bush sent them into New Orleans to help. They are the best of the best and we are lucky to have them here.

We made friends with Captain Jesse Stewart when we first delivered meals to the mayor’s office downtown. Of course we brought them food as well and became very popular with his men. Amazing what hot food can do. They have since helped us with our downtown operation. Helping package the meals, wash pots and pans, and deliver the food. When they asked if we could help them out on their day off, we could not refuse.

This was their day to have fun, play sports and blow off some steam. We provided them with steak, hamburgers and yes, we even found donated beer to give them as well. These guys had not had a day like this in over a year. No way to do it in Iraq and they weren’t home long enough to have a night off before coming here. It was so uplifting for us to see the absolute joy on their faces. Their expressions of gratitude were overwhelming. You tend to forget that these soldiers don’t have the everyday luxuries we all take for granted. For us, this is the way everyone is treated when they come to New Orleans, they should be no different.

And to top it all off, they all want to come back, on their time off, to help us rebuild, to do what they can. They have been affected by this event as well and want us all to know that New Orleans is a great place and that they have been honored to help out.

We are honored just to have met them.