My name is Patrick Manrique, I participated in the 2007 Winona State Service Learning Trip to New Orleans as a Graduate Student. I received my Bachelor of Science Degree from Virginia Tech in 2001 (Go Hokies!!!) and recently completed a 4 year active duty tour with the United States Army. As a Captain in the Medical Service Corps, my service assignments included the Korean Peninsula and a tour as a paratrooper with the famed 82nd Airborne Division. While with the Airborne, I served in Iraq and was part of the US Army’s Joint Task Force Katrina (JTFK) in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Over the years, it has been a great learning experience to see New Orleans as a tourist (Sugar Bowl 2001, 2007), as a rescuer (JTFK), and as a student volunteer. I admire the people of New Orleans for never giving up on their beloved city and I commend my WSU classmates for their selfless service to their fellow Americans of this great city.