let you down? >> they abandoned us. >> reporter: and where vera once lay, a shrine now remains. to john lee, vera's memorial is an emblem of lingering grief. a memento of neglect. >> i love you. >> love you too. >> reporter: a close friend of vera smith helped john bury vera that day. then, like so many others, she left new orleans for good, returning to visit this week for the first time since the storm. >> we'll never forget you, miss vera, no matter how many storms, no matter how many years. we'll never forget you, miss vera. we love you. rest in peace. >> amen. >> rest in peace. >> reporter: it's a small reminder of what should never have happened five years ago. you should know the head of fema says the agency has learned so much from katrina that they've actually revamped almost everything. they also have plans to get emergency personnel and supplies in place in case there is another disaster. i'm bob woodruff, abc news, in