People from all over the world sent gifts and letters to St. Paul’s Chapel for the recovery workers who would go there to rest and eat. I was a volunteer at St. Paul’s, and first gift that made me cry were the 1,000 origami paper cranes that arrived from the people of Nagasaki. It’s a symbol of peace. I thought if the people of Nagasaki could show compassion to us in our time of sorrow the world had a chance.

I saved some of the letters and drawings made by children. This was one of my favorites. I thought I would let this child say thank you this year. His name is Matthew.

Thank you men and women of service, from Matthew and me.