Thanks and appreciation to the American people

My name is Cynnomih Tarlesson. I came to the United States of America as a refugee on December 6, 2005 with 26 family members on one plane.

When war started in my homeland of Liberia, I wandered in the brushes for four years before getting across to the refugee camp in the Ivory Coast - where I came from - to the United States of America. So I want to say thanks to those that made it happen.

Thank you to the former President of the United States of America, George W. Bush, who ordered the Liberian Refugee Resettlement Program.

Thank you to the U.S. Homeland Security and Immigration for giving me the opportunity to come to America.

Thank you to the International Rescue Committee and IOM who bought our tickets and sponsored us when we first arrived in America.

Thank you to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) base in the Ivory Coast for keeping me alive with their water, food, and medicines that they supplied.

If I didn't say thank you to the citizens of the City of Vacaville, CA, then I will be ungrateful to the almighty God and His son Jesus the Christ.

Thank you to the Vacaville-School District, Fire Department, the Opportunity House, Police Department, the churches, especially the Vacaville First Baptist Church, and the Community Presbyterian Church, the CPC New Focus Ministry. I call them life revival / hope givers.

Thank you to my dearest U.S. family, Mr. Paul and Mrs. Debbie McGuire. Ff anyone knows them, you will know what I am talking about. They started since the day they met me in 2005 and still are in my life at this present. I have to name you out, Shea McGuire, because you are the front page.

Thank you to the not forgotten the City of Guinda, the Esparto school district, Fire Department, Sheriff Department, and the Woodland Community College, Mr. Paul and Mrs. True Love Martin, Mr. Frank and Mrs. Marine Nichols, Mr. Don and Mrs. May Gyham.

Thank you to my father Roosevelt Tarlesson, whose support from the U.S. to the refugee camp kept our family from hunger and kept encouraging us that it was going to be alright. It is alright today.

Overall, thank you to all American citizens whose taxes have supported us through the Social Services of California, the Counties of Solano and Yolo, and the Vacaville Housing Authority (Section 8). My family of seventeen and I have been living on these the past twelve years, in home, schools, hospitals, communities, neighbor, etc.

Thank you again to you all, it has been in my spirit to say this, and tell you how much I recognize and appreciate your love and care for the seventeen children that I, with your help, raised in the U.S. The last two just turned eighteen and will be graduating from high school.

Very gratefully,

Cynnomih Tarlesson