A life changing experience

Six months after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and other places along the Gulf Coast, stories are still emerging about those who responded - many of them strangers who suddenly found themselves in a strange city, giving their all to help complete strangers get their lives back together. This is this the story of two such volunteers - two Gainesville firefighters who will likely remember the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
for a long time.

A few days ago, their boss, Chief Dick Taylor, advised the city
council of federal reimbursement for humanitarian services rendered by
Lt. Keith Smith and Firefighter Chris Ledbetter in storm ravaged
Pearlington, Miss., near New Orleans.

"Being firefighters, they are accustomed to seeing disaster up close,
but the scenes of devastation caused by the killer storm was still
shocking for them," Taylor said.

The men were stationed in Pearlington as part of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency's emergency response effort and made lifelong
friends during their 28-day stay.

The Chief recalled that they slept on the ground in tents during their
stay and "roughed it," military-style, assisting victims where
emergency supplies did not come for several days.

"Keith and Chris were both instrumental in working with the local
people there in just getting their survival needs met."

The men came back with a lot of photographs of their experience, as
well as heavy beards and a lot of memories.

"They've got hearts, as good as gold, and they love helping people,
and that's what they did," Taylor said. "It's very evident, this is
their calling in life, to be folks who serve the public."

It's the kind of story that is, no doubt, being repeated in
communities all over the country - both large and small, stories of
men and women going beyond the call of duty. Men and women who
volunteered when disaster struck - leaving their loved ones and the
comfort of their own homes to serve in strange towns, living and
working under adverse conditions.

Strangers helping strangers - whether on the other side of town, in
another state, or on the other side of the world - in time of need.

It's what this country is all about.

(Jerry Gunn is a reporter for WDUN NEWS TALK 55, SPORTS RADIO 1240 THE TICKET and MAJIC 1029 and AccessNorthGa.com.)