Listen, thank you all for coming. I'm glad to be back here in Biloxi. I'm glad Laura came with me. (Applause.) I've been to this neighborhood before. As a matter of fact, I was here a couple of days after Katrina hit. It's amazing, isn't it? It's amazing what the world looked like and the way it looks like now.
The "world"?
I also met Sandy and Lynn Patterson from -- walking down the street, your neighbor. They -- (applause) -- well, just about everybody here, they've lost everything they own. People can't imagine what the world looked like then. I went by their homes -- just came out of their homes. It's got air-conditioning -- (laughter) -- electricity. You can see the reconstruction effort beginning here in this part of the world.Indeed, the Gulf Coast is a wonderful "part of the world".
I feel the quiet sense of determination that's going to shape the future of Mississippi. And so I've come back on this anniversary to thank you for your courage, and to let you know the federal government stands with you still.Heh. I would so love to have a beer with that kind and decent man.
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One of the people that has intrigued me the most is Mayor Tommy Longo of Waveland. Mayor, good to see you, buddy. Thanks for coming (Applause.) I'm always asking about you, Tommy.
Q [Mayor Longo]: I'm always asking about you --
THE PRESIDENT: That's right. (Laughter.) Check is in the mail. (Laughter.)
I'd rather listen to local mayors and county commissioners than folks sitting in Washington, D.C. about what this part of Mississippi wants. (Applause.)
"Part of... Mississippi"! Now that's more like it!
Sandy Patterson -- she can tell you how important it is to feel reconnected. She says, "My house is my home again, and it's good to be home." And that's what we want: people to help people here in this part of the world. (Applause.)
Aw nuts! He's saying it again.
Bobby Mahoney is with us. He showed the same spirit when he opened Mary Mahoney's. That's a restaurant he named for his mother. That's a smart thing to do if you have a restaurant. (Laughter.) Within two months of Hurricane Katrina, Mary Mahoney's was once again serving its world famous, gourmet seafood gumbo.
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That's a smart man who understands that as this part of the world flourishes and businesses grow, people are going to find work and have the where with all to help rebuild the communities in their lives.
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Optimism is the only option. (Applause.)
Thank you, Mr. President.
The remarkable things about this part of the world that was so affected by the storms was what happened to the schools.I "caught" it!
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Catch this... in the past school year, every district closed after Katrina was reopened. It's a remarkable accomplishment by the good folks in this part of the world.
See, back in 1969, Hurricane Camille destroyed everything but the steeple and the old church bell. This time, nothing was left standing, and so the congregation had to ring the old bell from its new place in the rubble. On that first Sunday after Katrina, Father Harold Roberts read from the Book of Romans. Here's what he said. He said, "Rejoice in hope. Be patient in suffering. Persevere in prayer" -- precisely what the people in this part of the world have done. (Applause.)
Amen!
One of the amazing groups was Hands On Gulf Coast. (Applause.)It's like different "worlds" were colliding!
Hands On Gulf Coast is a group of volunteers, total strangers to the people of this part of the world, in large part.
When the Coastal Family Health Center lost three buildings and more than 60 staff members, Hands On offered to help. They worked with nurses who came from the Gulf Coast. They got FedEx to supply funding for airfare. They provided food and housing. And as a result, the Coastal Family Health Center was able to provide critical help for good people in this part of the world.God bless 'em. It's almost like they were doing relief work in a faraway land.
