Today is the fourth anniversary of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Over a 1,000 lives were lost, and millions of lives were changed forever. Help, support and pure love poured out toward the citizens of New Orleans from across America and around the world to help rebuild this special city and all those displaced lives. One of the more famous people to bring his soul to the rebuilding efforts is movie star Brad Pitt, whose Make It Right Foundation is making major waves through the success of its home-building initiative.

Mayor Ray Nagin chose the site of the Make It Right Foundation houses to mark his commemoration of the Hurricane Katrina anniversary. New Orleans city council members, state legislators and other city officials joined him in thanking Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for all they have given the city. But more than anything, the strength of the Ninth Ward residents who stayed behind and returned to rebuild were most highly praised.


A representative of Make It Right remembered that as little as two years ago the location still had residents living in FEMA trailers. Now, 14 families are back. Nineteen new homes are under construction. One hundred and fifty families are scheduled to return to brand-new homes by the end of the year. The foundation has done a lot but credits the determination of the people of the Ninth Ward with the program's success.

May the hundreds of thousands of heroic Katrina survivors continue to forge ahead with the spirit of growth exhibited in abundance on this day -- even as we mourn all that was lost on this date four years ago.

More BV Katrina Anniversary Coverage
+Habitat For Humanity Dedicates 100th Home in 9th Ward's Musicians' Village
+Katrina Four Years Later: See Inside Brad Pitt's Make It Right Homes
+New Orleans: Four Years Later, Coming Back to Vibrant Black Life
+The Ladies of Louisiana Spirit Minister to Katrina Sufferers
+Katrina Anniversary: New Orleans Residents Play Mayor on the Radio