WAVELAND, Miss. — For several weeks after Katrina, Raymond Cuevas, Commander of the American Legion Post 77, saw nothing much to salvage from the organization’s lodge on the waterfront. The 13,000 square foot facility was ripped clean off the foundation, leaving steel I-beams in a heap like so much spaghetti.
But just last week, after much searching, he found the organization’s safe in the trees, about 100 yards away from the building site. As he had hoped, about $6,000 that he had left in the safe was still inside. The problem was, as he discovered after using a blow torch to open the safe, it was also filled with a soupy, foul-smelling mud. So began the torturous process of money laundering.
Dollar by dollar – literally, since much of the total was in one- and five-dollar bills from a recent bingo night – Cuevas has washed the currency in a bucket in his backyard, and gingerly laid it out to dry. Much to his wife’s chagrin, he’s used the brand new kitchen floor as a drying surface.
Remarkably, over the last several days, Cuevas has recovered close to $6,000. About $150 or so remains, he figures. He shows us a box of fragments that look like they’ve been worked on by worms in a compost heap. He’s been back and forth to the bank several times to trade in the faded fragments of money, to the point where the tellers are less than enthusiastic about his mission.
“Them ladies in the bank don’t want to see me anymore,” he says, having just discovered, and washed, another dollar bill. “They say it stinks!”
Friday night under the bright lights
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Most states and cities would do well to have someone like that fella watch over our tax dollars like he does the Post's money.
john brown avondale estates ga (Sent Oct 29, 2005 9:34:07 AM)
if only the sense of mission that this gentleman has, extended to those, who are supposed to be our elected overseers of law and finance control.
b. pierce arlington, tx. (Sent Oct 29, 2005 11:16:22 AM)
Can this damaged currency be replaced dollar for dollar by the Treasury dept? I'm sure a bank could assist. I seem to remember that as a kid with a torn bill, I turned it in and got a proper replacement.
Connie King, Houston, Texas (Sent Oct 30, 2005 5:38:56 AM)
bless legion post 77 ...they will over come . thank you for being there when your country needed you god bless
andy,ms (Sent Oct 30, 2005 6:08:58 PM)
the treasury has a section devoted to replacing damaged bills. its a shame that the news organizations sat back and kept it quiet just so they would have a story to write
jim NY (Sent Oct 31, 2005 3:55:46 PM)
there is adept with the treasury that will try to prove the denominations and replace
c. shaw,mason tx. (Sent Oct 31, 2005 5:17:57 PM)
ditto on the tax comment... somebody ought to send this man to DC.
Sam L., farmville VA (Sent Oct 31, 2005 5:52:58 PM)
With all the trauma of the hurricane and all the lives that were severly effected, it is amazing how bright a positive action seems.
Randy Pinkham Greenfield, Mass (Sent Oct 31, 2005 7:00:01 PM)
Again, kudos to Raymond. There aren't too many people in the world that would be that ambitious. Let's also commend his honesty, another trait lacking in today's society.
Bridget Moore Florissant, MO (Sent Nov 1, 2005 10:25:36 AM)
I met this man at the Waveland Cafe. He is a great American. He has stayed busy helping his neighbors recover as well. He even bought the volunteers some Mardi Gras necklaces and boxes and boxes of stuffed animals to give to the kids. We would say, "This little bear lost his home to the storm, can you take care of him for me?" The children would reach out and take them and give them great big hugs, here was someone they could relate to! Nice to know someone like you Raymond! Hope to see you again! Good luck with your new plants and your ceremony on Nov. 11th!
Karen from Tampa.
Karen McCormick (Sent Nov 2, 2005 10:07:44 AM)
Hey Raymond,
It's Dane. Looks like your ready to run for office by the postings left here. Hope all is going well for you. Take care.
Dane R. Charlotte, NC (Sent Nov 17, 2005 11:54:09 PM)
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