Washington, Aug 17: Letters of condolences and praise have been pouring in Mayor's office of Oak Creek city, where Sikh worshippers were shot down by a white supremacist earlier this month.
The letters - both in email and by post - are not only coming from the city residents, many of whom drop it at the city hall, but also from across the country and many parts of the world; from people ranging from diplomats, diplomatic missions; police officers from as far as London; religious organizations and common man.
A collection of 19 such letters and emails have been put on display on a bulletin board at the city hall, reported Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; giving details of some of these letters, a few of them were simply addressed Mayor, Oak Creek. “I think it's part of the healing,” Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi, said He also received numerous voice mails. Many of the letters thanked Lt Brian Murphy, the police officer who received eight bullets as he rushed to the scene to protect the worshippers from the gunman. “Every letter passes along their hope Brian Murphy is OK.
They also ask, ‘What can we do to help?'” Six Sikh worshippers were killed in the incident and four were admitted to a city hospital. Two of them have been discharged.
One of them Punjab Singh is still in critical condition while that of Lt Murphy is improving and said to be satisfactory.
According to the newspaper, which is winner of Pulitzer prize in 2008, 2010 and 2011; a police officer from Cambridgeshire Constabulary in England, who is Sikh, wrote to convey his condolences and sadness at the loss of fellow Sikhs and the wounding of Murphy.
“I wish, I really really do wish that I could have been there to help,” the police officer wrote. He ended his email, “I hope the police service there continue to deliver the outstanding service and continue to produce the admirable officers that attended the gurdwara on that fateful day.”
One of the emails on display at City Hall is from a reverend in the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, the daily said.
“Distance is no barrier to the emotions that this episode has generated. We feel your pain and we ask God to comfort and strengthen you personally and all those whom you lead as you offer comfort, solace and healing to those immediately affected,” wrote the reverend in Tonga.
