Oklahoma City – Gov. Brad Henry joined Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and other officials of that state Friday, Sept. 30, for a ceremony in New Orleans honoring the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Oklahoma National Guard troops that responded to the disaster.

The service was held at the Holy Name of Jesus Church on the campus of Loyola University.

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As we gather today, I cannot help but consider the bonds that unite Louisiana with my own state, Oklahoma. While this nation has never seen anything quite like the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina, it is certainly true that Oklahomans know all too well the fury that Mother Nature can, and does, unleash. Whether such fury arrives in the form of tornado or hurricane, drought or flood, the bitter lesson is the same: Tragedy can strike anywhere and at any time.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to visit with many New Orleanians who had been evacuated to Oklahoma, to the National Guard’s Camp Gruber in the northeastern part of the state. At the time, Camp Gruber held more than 1,500 evacuees, most of whom were from this city.

Among the people I met was a man who had weathered the storm with his wife and three young daughters at the Superdome. Days later, the family was bused to Houston, only to be told once they’d arrived that they would be moved yet again. Amid the confusion while boarding a new fleet of buses, the man was separated from his wife and daughters.

Fourteen hours later, tired and hungry, he arrived at Camp Gruber. To his horror, he discovered that his wife and children had not been put on one of the other buses. They were nowhere to be found, and he had no idea where they were.

But this brave man from New Orleans did not despair. He was worried and frustrated, of course, but he had not given up, he had not been beaten. This man -- in a state he had never before been, displaced from his home and separated from his wife and young children -- knew that he and his family would be forever changed. But he had no doubt he would find his wife and children; and when he did, he told me, they would eventually return to New Orleans and start life anew. As a husband and father of three daughters, myself, I could not imagine the horror this man faced. But he, like so many others, was comforted by the warmth, compassion and reassurance of Oklahomans. And the diligent National Guard troops, law enforcement and relief workers in Oklahoma made certain he was reunited with his family.

Sadly, many citizens from this great city and state were not so fortunate. Today we honor those who fell victim to Katrina’s vicious power. We mourn their loss; we honor their memory; we pray and offer silent reflection; we will never forget them.

And yet the communities impacted by Katrina will persevere. The people of Louisiana, like the people of Oklahoma, know that great challenge elicits great triumph. The citizens of this storied city and state are too creative, too resolute, too strong and too resilient to be beaten down by the calamity of Katrina.

One of Oklahoma’s favorite sons, Will Rogers, once observed that the best way out of adversity is through it. The devastation wrought by Katrina is deep and profound, but it is not insurmountable. New Orleans and Louisiana are forever changed, but the great people of this city and state will face the challenges head-on and will certainly prevail.

Gov. Blanco, please know that you and the people of your state are in the thoughts and prayers of all Oklahomans as you move forward through this difficult time. We are your neighbors and your friends, and we will always be there to assist you any way we can.

And, so, as we gather today to honor those who lost their lives, celebrate with those who survived, and pay tribute to those who provided relief, I am so very proud of the vital role Oklahoma has played throughout these recovery efforts. From our faith-based community to medical professionals, relief workers and countless others, Oklahomans mobilized swiftly and decisively to help our neighbors in need.

Our most significant contribution, by far, arrived with the nearly 2,500 members of the Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard -- troops who were among the very first in the nation to answer Louisiana’s call for help. Oklahoma Guard members helped restore order and hope when it was needed most. They saved countless lives, and they delivered immeasurable care and comfort with great compassion.

In an unprecedented move that speaks volumes about the capabilities of the Oklahoma Guard, Oklahoma Army National Guard Brigadier Gen. Myles Deering, commander of our 45th Infantry Brigade, was given command of the Joint Task Force stationed here at Ground Zero – a force consisting of nearly 15,000 Guard and active-duty military personnel and charged with the task of saving lives and restoring order to this community.

To the selfless, courageous and committed men and women of our National Guard, I can tell you that Oklahoma thanks you, Louisiana thanks you -- your country thanks you. You have made us exceedingly proud, and you have made a tremendous and lasting impact in one of the most difficult natural disasters of modern times.

And now, you are the last of those first responders to return home. But I know that it is unlikely you will ever completely leave this place. What you have seen during your mission has been both horrific and heroic, and your experience here is certain to remain with you for the rest of your lives. You, too, are forever changed, and we will not forget what you have done.

Nearly six months ago, I participated in a service in Oklahoma City commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the federal building bombing. On that solemn morning, I turned to reflect on Psalm 46:5, a passage I believe holds particular resonance as we gather today. It reads:

“God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.”

Just as God was with Oklahoma during our darkest times, the Almighty is undoubtedly in this city, with the people of New Orleans, with the people of Louisiana, and with all those whose lives were forever changed in the wake of what happened here.

God bless you all.