Free Republic

BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (AP) - President Bush traveled to a still-ravaged Gulf Coast Thursday after three months away, promising that a building boom is on its way and encouraging other Americans to visit, too. Bush's visit to New Orleans and Mississippi was part of a series of events to showcase his priorities leading up to the State of the Union address. He said he was committed to rebuilding communities devastated from Hurricane Katrina. "People in far away places like Washington, D.C., still hear you and care about you," Bush told survivors gathered at St. Stanislaus College, just a couple...

BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. — Inside a church with a damaged roof and no electricity, Liz Fergusson quietly wept as her congregation celebrated its first Sunday Mass since monstrous and deadly Hurricane Katrina ravaged the coast a week ago, tearing apart everything she owned. Marcus Johnson holds a flashlight for Bishop Thomas Rodi as he leads Mass in Bay St. Louis, Miss., at St. Rose de Lima Catholic Church. Theresa Wilson prays while attending mass in Bay St. Louis, Miss., at St. Rose de Lima Catholic Church. Wilson's home was destroyed by hurricane Katrina. Sometimes the weeping turned into uncontrollable...

It is with heavy heart I write this... I have finally reconnected with my best friend who is a paramedic who was sent from Georgia 2 days ago to Gulf Port, Mississippi before the hurricane hit. He just reached me within the last 10 mins via emergency cell phone to tell me he was alive. Thousands of bodies have been discovered throughout Mississippi in Gulf Port, Waveland,Hancock County,Bay of St.Louis. They are hanging in trees and they are pulling them out 30 at a time. Entire families found drowned in their homes and washing up on shore. The stories he...