"Open Letter to New York"

An open letter from truly grateful Southerners to New Yorkers everywhere. The following words are a long time coming; generations too long. We believe that within these heartfelt words lies the true sentiment of most every Southerner from Jackson MS, to Jacksonville FL., from New Orleans to New Augusta, from Alabama to Arkansas. We take this opportunity to say to New Yorkers, you have our undying respect and eternal admiration. Never have we been closer in kindred. Never before have so many of us felt such a burning desire to come to the aid of our northern brothers and sisters.

Your indomitable courage and unyielding spirit has forever changed the way we Southerners utter the words New Yorker. With the devil as the driver, the enemy proclaimed victory much too soon. He had no idea who he was dealing with. He struck at the heart of this benevolent giant, and to his dismay where building died, heroes were born. You met defeat with defiance, ruin with resolve. And with courage we can only marvel at, you came together as family.

We know these meager words fall far short of describing the pain and sorrow that fill you heart. Most of us could imagine the worst and it would still not do justice to the true horror. Unless we were there when the first plane shook the world. Unless we were there when each tower's collapse squeezed a giant wave of dust and turned day to night. Unless we were there to stand in the aftermath, in the eye of the storm, Ground Zero, we shall never know. From our comfortable recliners we watched in horror. Our spellbound gaze broken only by the sound of rapid heartbeats. We watched mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, all refusing to surrender to reality by holding a picture close to their heart. And we...we reached out to hug the ones close to us...a little closer. As we watched the massive towers tremble, we trembled, and when they were gone, so was our feeling of security. And it would never be the same.

On 9-11, that one day, reality changed all the days to follow. From thousands of miles away we felt helpless and didn't know what to do. You did. You incredible people called New Yorkers. Before 9-11 we Southerners had a most difficult time in relating to your politics, your proclivities, your people; people we now know as courageous as colorful. Right now as we speak, there are countless children holding close their father or mother, not a memory, simply because so many brave New Yorkers made the ultimate sacrifice. Many came to the call without even being called. They came from a since of duty to fellow Americans; to family. As New Yorkers, your stand in the line of fire has inspired a nation, invigorated patriotism, brought new meaning of America to a whole new generation, and most of all you gave us hope in a time of despair.

And please know this, as you wiped away the tear stained dust, you also wiped away any vestiges of the Mason/Dixon Line for a great many of us. Your gallantry showed us Southerners how people matter more than prejudices. When a mother pleaded with you to search just a little longer, what you saw was the sadness of her heart, not the shade of her skin. When the memories of those last good-byes, casually given just a few hours earlier, were playing over and over in your mind, you never stopped the task at hand. You never hesitated in the challenge to turn tragedy into triumph regardless of race, creed or color. No, we will never know the depths of your nightmares, or the true heights of your heroism. We can only imagine…and pray. Pray to our God we are never put to the test in the same horrible manner as you New Yorkers.

And oh, one more thing, if you're ever down in these parts, we have a place at the supper table ready for you anytime. No problem my friend, it's what we do here in the South...for family!

God Bless.
Paul Gallo

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