Dignity at last for Vera Smith, the iconic victim of Hurricane Katrina

[DoYouEverWonder]

18 November 2005

For five full days the body of Vera Smith lay by the roadside in New Orleans - ignored by the authorities in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Someone covered her body with a tarpaulin and eventually her friends and neighbours built a makeshift grave and wrote: "Here Lies Vera. God Help Us." Almost three months later, she is finally to receive something more dignified.

Next week, Ms Smith's ashes are to be buried following a Thanksgiving Day family get-together that she would normally have attended. Her ashes will be scattered over the gravesite where her parents lie in Santa Rosa, Texas.

The ceremony has been organised by Ms Smith's daughter, Cynthia Lopez, who was also able to provide some of the missing details about her mother, whose fate sparked outrage across the nation and came to symbolise some of the divisions in American society.

"I feel that my country abandoned her. Our government did not do enough for our people," Ms Lopez said, speaking from her home in San Antonio, Texas. "Five days her body was there. I have had people tell me that they went up to the police and were . Finally we can do this."

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article327750.ece




Finally, RIP Vera. Even though most of us never knew you, we will never forget you.

[malaise]

1. Vera was a symbol of

the neglect meted out to citizens of NOLA. RIP dear lady.

[MaineDem]

2. And from the foreign press no less

I sure hope the US media reports on this.

Sadly, Vera is just one of many.

[BOSSHOG]

3. The New Orleans Times-Picayune

had a front page story yesterday about a similar situation. A 91 year old lady died in front of the civic center September 1st; a blanket was thrown over her and she sat in a wheelchair and she stayed there for days. Finally, this past wednesday she was buried in New Orleans.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Plus they are still finding people

I saw at least two stories last week about family members finally able to come home, only to find grandma's still in the attic. I can't imagine what these people most be going through.

[BOSSHOG]

6. There was a freeze warning on the gulf coast last night and

many people in Mississippi and Louisiana are living in tents. Residents of the lower ninth ward have been warned that more bodies most likely will be found when debris is removed. Hell!

[MaineDem]

5. Thank you

I'm very glad to hear that. I have been thinking about that woman.

[BOSSHOG]

7. Check out

www.nola.com. Archive to yesterday. The picture of her in her wheelchair is haunting.

[CTyankee]

8. I read a hate message

on AOL. They ran the story in their news section. The first comment was something along the lines of "Now the family is suing -- they're black, right?" Another RWer ranted about how the family should sue the Police Department, not FEMA.

Total bile coming out of their messages.

[Benhurst]

9. Recommended NT

[texpatriot2004]

10. Recommended for Vera...and the others like her that our Fed.

Government failed in the Gulf Coast region. I don't care what BushCo says about "plenty of blame to go around" this is the United States of America...this pResident FAILED this country and its people. In America, the buck stops with the president. It is the duty of the president to LEAD especially in times of crisis.

The aftermath of Katrina (a man-made disaster) is disgraceful and it is ongoing...STILL. This only adds insult to injury. God Bless the people of the Gulf Coast who were affected. God Bless Vera and all the "Veras" whose bodies were disrespected by this government.

[SomewhereOutThere424]

11. Better late than never....

Which is more than can be said during a disaster.

[myrna minx]

12. Rest in peace Vera Smith. n/t

[Javaman]

13. And what of the woman in the wheelchair at the Superdome?

Who was she? what happened to her?

Like Sherman's march to the sea, moron* leaves nothing but wreckage and human misery in his path.

[KamaAina]

14. That vacant lot should be made into Vera Smith Park

It's as good a place as any to put the Katrina Memorial, not too far out Magazine, if memory serves, over by Coliseum Square.

:(

[applegrove]

15. Here is to Vera!

[donheld]

16. May she rest in peace