Mr George W. Bush, President of the United States of America sent Clem an air mail letter of gratitude for the sentiments he had expressed in a song he had written about September 11, 2001.

The letter was in response to correspondence sent by Wagga Mayor, Kevin Whales to the White House on July 26 last year.

Included in this correspondence was a CD of Mr Gooden's song. The words below prompted the President to action.

We never had a chance to say goodbye.

The morning broke so beautiful

A bright and sunny day

We all had breakfast together

Then you went on your way

The hijackers came and destroyed the twin towers

As never been seen before

It broke our hearts because we knew you worked

On the 82nd floor

Now weeks and weeks have gone by

And we are still all alone

Katrina, Sally and I

Still waiting by the phone

We can't understand such hatred

Why oh why oh why

I love you my darling husband

We never had a chance to say goodbye

Where are you our Daddy

Must be somewhere in the sky

Wish you could come home to us

'Cause all Mummy can do is cry

Katrina and I try to comfort her

And make the hours slip by

We miss you our lovely Daddy

We never had a chance to say goodbye

Katrina is only little

But I am big, I'm four

We try to help our Mummy

Make the beds and sweep the floor

So please God bless our Daddy

Take him to heaven in the sky

We are very lonely without you

We never had a chance to say goodbye.

Clem Gleeson