Kelly,

Please let me introduce myself. I am Capt Frank Paskewich, the Commanding Officer for Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. I met you briefly when you were working at our Bucktown office within the first week and a half when the Vice President, Secretary Chertoff, and Admiral Allen came to visit the unit. I apologize for the lateness of this email as I've been planning to write you for a very long time but keep getting sidetracked. I read an article about you in the Times Pic last week and it prompted me to blow the dust off this old email that Sean Regan sent me back in January that I've been keeping. As I am sure you can appreciate, it has been an incredibly busy time the last 8 months for the local Coast Guard since Katrina hit as I am sure it has been for you. I wanted to take this opportunity to express my most sincere appreciation for what you, the PGA and local caterers did for my crew and for all Coast Guard men and women who responded in those early days. Your tremendous sacrifice and good will in providing food for all was an absolutely huge morale boost to hundreds of responders. It is what kept them going day after day and afforded them time to rest and replenish their energy and strength under incredibly harsh conditions and no doubt resulted in the saving of thousands of lives. I can tell you the word spread quickly to all Coast Guard responders in Louisiana of what you were doing and that the responders on-scene were "eating like kings" at Bucktown. After you departed, the food provided by the contracted caterer was not nearly the same quality. I'd rather tell you in person just how bad it really was! I wanted to let you know that we have not forgotten about you and at some point in the near future, intend to give more formal recognition to you and others involved with your heroic efforts on behalf of the Coast Guard.

Dear Kelly--
Greetings from Chicago! Although March seems like a long time ago, we just wanted you to know we have not forgotten about you and the Gulf Coast! With national focus on your recent election for mayor, you are back in news. However, you have never dropped from the minds of the Latin group of students and teachers who came down in March. Project participants from Latin still keep active their efforts to help everyone down there; we have had some fundraisers, assemblies, and, as you know, set up a summer trip to come back down to help.

I have been in the Coast Guard for over 19 years. The job we faced, and continue to face in the Gulf region is the most massive I have participated in. Having an organization that brings food and support to the folks with their boots on the ground is great. There is still much more work to be done, and I know you will still be there for us. I salute you, and thank you for all your efforts.

The guys from Rash-Away donated a bunch of their product. Feed the Relief delivered the sports creme throughout New Orleans to treat burned skin, bug bites, minor irritations, and uncomfortable skin conditions. Check out the images and their own website at rashaway.com

My name is Donny Lirette. I am one of the Paramedics in NOLA that was sitting next Kelly for Thanksgiving. On behave of all my EMS Division, we wanted to thank you. We usually do not get recognized for anything. It’s Police and Fire that get all the recognition.