I made the sign and had my friend Robert on the left and other Saddle customers pose with the sign.  The saddle was the most well known gay bar in Des Moines. I sent photo postcard to at least one place, Dick's Bar, on 192 Second Ave. I received five cards from customers of that bar.  I wanted to contact the bar again nearly 25 years latter but it may have closed May 31, 2007 and I don't know to contact any of them. :(

After the 9/11 attack I drove from Des Moines, Iowa, to NYC to take photos.  I had car trouble in Ohio and returned to Des Moines.  I then took a 24 hour bus ride and arrived in NYC that Friday.  After I returned I sent 364 photo postcards to random New Yorkers expressing Iowa’s support for them.  Sometimes I used old New York and Statue of Liberty stamps.  I received about 29 letters and cards and 26 emails back from New Yorkers. You can find this content on my website that contains a few of the photos I took in New York, some images that I sent as post cards, and the New York responses. I created all the photos with “I Love NY” in them.  No photoshop. I was 38 years old then and I am now 63. Recently, I wanted to reach out to people who responded back then but many of the emails are not valid, bars have closed, organizations have moved, and some have passed away.  You may forward this email to anyone you like. If you need a high resolution version of something let me know.

Always pulling for “America’s City” and its people.  Rural Iowans care for our Big Apple friends to the East.

https://wilcoxgregorya.myportfolio.com/i-love-new-york

Greg Wilcox

Des Moines, Iowa

Sept 5, 2025