So, on a trip back home in May of 2002, he asked to meet with the elders of his tribe. First, Kimeli told them of the horrors he had witnessed in New York. Many of Kimeli’s people had never even heard of 9/11. They couldn’t even fathom buildings that tall and most people in the village had never seen a plane except way high up in the sky.
Then, Kimeli told them of his plan. He wanted to buy a cow (something this formerly homeless boy had never been able to do) and turn right around and give that cow to America. In Kimeli’s tradition, a cow is the most precious property one can own. And it is believed to bring great comfort to its owner. As one elder told a reporter, a cow is a “handkerchief to wipe away tears”.
He wanted his elders’ blessing for his plan. But, unexpectedly, one-by-one the elders stood up and said they were so inspired by his plan they wanted to do the same. In the end there were 14 cows that had been pledged to the American people to help bring them peace.
