President Barack Obama delivered a message yesterday of admiration for the city of New Orleans as it continues recovering from Hurricane Katrina and the levee breaks ten years ago. The president took Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s message of resilience to a national level.
President Obama started his speech at the Sanchez community center in the Lower Ninth Ward with a nod to New Orleans culture.
“One day after I leave office maybe I’ll finally hear Rebirth at the Maple Leaf on Tuesday night.”
He says the city has been an example of resilience for the nation.
“Your efforts inspire me. And no matter how hard it’s been, and how hard and how long the road ahead might seem, you’re working and building and striving for a better tomorrow. I see evidence of it all across this city. And by the way, along the way, the people of New Orleans, you didn’t just inspire me you inspired all of America.”
He was briefly interrupted by a woman when he noted that violence remains a problem.
“As hard as rebuilding levees are … as hard as……. I agree with that. But I’ll get to that. Thank you ma’am.”
He introduced four young men he’d met in the city’s Nola for Life anti-crime program, saying they represent hope for the city to emerge stronger than it was before the storm, and in a nation worthy of generations to come.