I just wanted to share with you all a little email note I received this morning from the Innocence Project. I'm grateful for everything on this Thanksgiving, knowing there are many less fortunate people out there in the world. I believe together we all can make a difference in those people's lives. Please visit www.innocenceproject.org.
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Dear XXX,
On this Thanksgiving ¡ª the first one I¡¯m spending with my family since 1984 ¡ª I thought I would send a note to tell you how thankful I am for my freedom and for the chance at a new life.
I¡¯m thankful to my family for welcoming me home, and to God for making my exoneration possible. I¡¯m thankful to the Innocence Project staff for their work on my case and, most of all, to you, for your support as a member of the Innocence Project community.
I spent 23 years behind bars in Texas for a crime I didn¡¯t commit. After not knowing for a lot of years whether the truth would ever come out, DNA testing proved my innocence and I was released in April.
I¡¯ve been out for seven months now, and it¡¯s hard to express how good it feels. I¡¯m starting to build a life. I live with my sister in Garland, Texas, and I¡¯m taking computer programming classes through an organization called Central Dallas Ministries. Technology has changed so much since I went to prison, but I¡¯m really into learning new things and these classes are perfect for me.
For my first Thanksgiving as a free man in 23 years, I¡¯m not taking anything for granted. After a few years in prison, you start looking forward to the meal they serve on Thanksgiving, and you start to think of your fellow inmates as your family, because it¡¯s hard to accept that your real family is all together, so far away. After what I¡¯ve been through, I¡¯m just taking it all in. I¡¯m going to my mom¡¯s house, my grandma¡¯s house and maybe a friend¡¯s house as well. Thanksgiving is a special day, and I¡¯m overjoyed to be with my family.
Thank you for your commitment to truth and justice, and Happy Holidays,
Thomas McGowan
Garland, Texas
- Re: My First Thanksgiving Back Homeposted on 11/27/2008
bravo, fengzi, so so kind. I am on that website now. - Re: My First Thanksgiving Back Homeposted on 11/29/2008
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