Salem Katrina Team Report for December 22

Joan and I were proud of Ben as he jumped right into the swing of things, joining the crew managing our base camp at D’Iberville. Ben worked on emptying a kerosene fuel tank for repair, repairing the pallet walkways and other tasks. Our evening in D’Iberville ended, as usual, with a great campfire and a Christmas carol. There were, as usual, a group playing cards in the meeting tent, ignoring the cold and the generator's noise.

The next morning we were up and packed, heading for Jacksonville to spend Christmas Day with our old friend Clara Webster. Her great news was that son Chris has been accepted for Navy flight training, his goal since age three. He should be commissioned in August and then start earning his wings. Of course, they aren’t quite as good as Air Force wings, but they’re okay!

We wish all our dear friends and loved ones a joyous Christmas. We haven’t been able to do our usual cards and gifts, having chosen a demanding mission here in Mississippi instead. We’re tired but rewarded after five weeks, and we will be in the Gautier or D’Iberville PDA camps for about two more. After that, we’ll reconsider how long we can continue working, based on budget and fatigue factors.

Friends, please remember that everywhere along the Gulf Coast there is terrible damage, not just in the New Orleans area. Here in Mississippi, 65,000 homes were totally destroyed, and many more damaged. Those damaged ones are what we’re working on because they can be reused, made ready again for their owners.

I have mostly been working veterans issues, and am amazed at the number of elderly war veterans (those over 65) who are living on Social Security alone, and who are not aware of VA pensions for low income veterans. Other vets have injuries they’ve not even tried to get VA compensation for, and we’re getting great help from the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Paralyzed Veterans of America in bringing their claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The local VA hospital was not badly damaged by Katrina, but many, many staffers lost their homes and are now living in trailers on the VA campus. Problems also are worsened by the nearby Keesler AFB hospital being totally closed down from damage, and not able to care for their retired population.

Please remember that we need money, and gift cards for Wal-Mart, Lowes and Home Depot where we get supplies. We also need sewing machines and two travel trailers for office space for the local PDA camp managers, who otherwise have to work out of plastic tents. We have also been specifically requested by the Gautier Presbyterian Church to bring household items to replace the damaged or lost furniture, area rugs, washers, dryers, etc., which their members need. Pam Martin is coordinating this program. Please, if you're driving to the disaster area, consider renting a UHaul and filling it with the extra stuff your church members all have around their homes.