"I tried to thank one of our firemen that came down from Raleigh, the Durham Highway Department. And that was the first week they were down here because they took a week, each fire department, sent their trucks and firemen down here. And I made an effort to speak to this one guy that seemed to be like he had - and I'd seen him at the distribution centers a few times. And I tried to tell him how much we did appreciate what they were doing. He said, 'Don't even mention it.' Like I had offended him almost. I said, 'But we do.' He said, 'Don't mention it. You've done more for me than I have you. I said, 'Well how in the world did that happen?' He says, 'Your community has shown me a spirit I have never seen before anywhere I've lived.' He says, 'I can ride down the road and people say, 'Hey'.' He said, 'You don't wave at people where I came from.' He said, 'I can't believe that people will speak to you and show the love that has shined through the community for one another and for us.' That was shocking. So I'm glad the spirit of that nature went forth."
Interview with Charlie Thompson, Dec 8, 1999. Southern Oral History Project, UNC.