Ever since Jan, 11, 1986, when disaster struck at Villeneuve Castle, the response of the people of Prince Edward County and surrounding places and from people from as far away as Windsor, Toronto, Kingston and Quebec was an overwhelming experience for us.

How can we ever forget the efficiency, helpfulness, kindness and professionalism displayed by the Picton Police, the Picton detachment of the OPP, the Picton Fire Department and the ambulances from Picton and Belleville? A very special thank you goes to all the doctors, nurses and support staff of the Prince Edward Memorial Hospital – what a tremendous job you people did. It almost seemed that all those departments mentioned trained for the occasion in days prior to the disaster.

So many people have been kind to us in so many different ways. My special thanks goes to Betsy and Carl Kidd of Bloomfield, who took care of my wife, Karen, and our two sons, Richard and Brian, while I was unable to do so. They provided them with food, shelter and protection until the initial shock wore off and self sufficiency took over.

Thank you to all the people, the clergy and their congregations, the Salvation Army, the radio station CJBQ in Belleville and the Picton merchants for prayers and moral support, food, clothing, shelter and money so generously donated.

The hardest part of our present existence is for us to deal with the loss of a precious life and the numerous painful injuries brought upon other people, friends and strangers alike. All we can feel is helplessness in this regard.

As for Karen and me, we do not have any plans for the immediate future. We will pick up the pieces and get our lives together for a new start.

Once we are on our feet again, we hope to make some kind of a contribution to the community in return for what the community did for us.

Karen and Ulrich Uhlmann, sons Richard and Brian, formerly of Villeneuve Castle