Artist Betsi Burgess and her husband John are residents of the Gulf Coast. However, like hundreds of others, they are living elsewhere. Their home in Gulfport is on the National Register of Historic Places and was hit hard by what is being considered the biggest natural disaster in the history of the United States of America...Hurricane Katrina. Jacki and I have many fond memories of casual dinner parties at the Burgess’ beach home. John sent Jacki and I an e-mail today, October 18th, and summarized why it is important to rebuild. After a month of effort to rebuild their garage apartment, it is nearly ready to occupy while they restore their home. This effort is in itself a major accomplishment.
John tells his feelings in his e-mail:
Our dear friends, John and Betsi, love this home on the coast and they are heart broken. The front entry hall: plaster walls are stripped clean, the main staircase and the closet under the stairs...gone. There were folding doors with beveled glass panels leading into the dining room...gone. The rear staircase to the second floor is completely gone. Their home, in Gulfport, was 19 ft above sea level and the watermark on the walls is 10 feet high. Pass Christian, 15 miles west, was under 30 feet of water and it did not recede until eight hours later. Jacki and I lived for several years in the Pass and Betsi owned a beach front business in the Pass. Many photos of Pass Christian are too graphic to share. The home we owned and the business Betsi and John owned are now nothing but empty sandy lots. This is why we must help our fellow Americans in Pass Christian to rebuild their city. One of America's cities! Please join Jacki and I and the Maumee Valley Chef's Association rebuild the Memorial Park in Pass Christian...One Brick at a Time. Betsi's painting showing the spirit of the grand people of the Gulf coast is now nailed to the front of their home. It truly tells the story of the heart of the people and why we must help. "We CAN Do It, Y'all" Jacki & Johnny
