Harrison Phillips' letter to Buffalo: ‘This isn’t a goodbye’

kAmk6>mp EH@\E:>6 q:==D ?@>:?66 7@C E96 (2=E6C !2JE@? |2? @7 E96 *62C 2H2C5[ 5676?D:G6 E24<=6 w2CC:D@? !9:==:AD D:8?65 H:E9 E96 |:??6D@E2 ':<:?8D =2DE H66< 27E6C 7@FC D62D@?D :? qF772=@]k^6>mk^Am

kAmxVG6 =:G65 3J 3=:?5 72:E9 >J H9@=6 =:76[ 6G6? H96? x 766= F?46CE2:?] p?5 v@5VD 2=H2JD 42==65 >6 E@ H96C6 xV> DFAA@D65 E@ 36[ @C H96C6 9:D H:== :D 42==:?8 >6]k^Am

kAm{2DE H66<[ H96? H6 H6C6 86EE:?8 4=@D6C E@ E96 H:C6[ 2?5 :E =@@<65 2D :7 x H2D?VE 8@:?8 E@ 86E 2 562= 5@?6 367@C6 7C66 286?4J E@ D:8? 324< :? qF772=@[ 2== x H2D AC2J:?8 7@C :D E92E v@5 H@F=5 =625 >6 6I24E=J E@ H96C6 xV> DFAA@D65 E@ 36] x’> =62?:?8 @? E92E 72:E9 ?@H[ 2D x 32=2?46 6I4:E6>6?E 7@C >J ?6IE 492AE6C H:E9 566A 2AAC64:2E:@? 7@C >J E:>6 :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<]k^Am

kAmtG6? E9@F89 xV> 962565 E@ |:??6D@E2[ x C6>2:? 6I4:E65 7@C H92E’D DE:== E@ 8C@H E9C@F89 >J 7@F?52E:@?[ w2CC:D@?’D !=2J>2<6CD[ :? qF772=@] $@>6E:>6D H96? x E9:?< 23@FE >J 7@F?52E:@?[ x E9:?< 23@FE =6824J[ H9:49[ @7E6?[ :D =:<6 A=2?E:?8 D665D :? 2 82C56? E92E J@F ?6G6C 86E E@ D66] *@F 3F:=5 E92E =6824J[ <?@H:?8 J@F >:89E ?@E H:E?6DD :E] qFE x’> =F4<J 6?@F89 E92E xV> DE:== 8@:?8 E@ D66 >@DE @7 E9:D[ 3642FD6 x 42?VE C6:E6C2E6 6?@F89 E92E x H:== 36 2 A2CE @7 w2CC:D@?VD !=2J>2<6CD :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C< 7@C 2 G6CJ =@?8 E:>6]k^Am

kAm~? %F6D52J[ x 92G6 2? 6G6?E 2E E96 t2DE6C? w:==D |2==[ A2CE?6C65 H:E9 sF77VD[ 2?5 xV> 4@>:?8 324< E@ qF772=@ 7@C E92E] x 92G6 >J DA@CED 42>A E9:D DF>>6C[ 9@A67F==J :? w:89>2C< $E25:F>] xV== 36 E96C6[ 2?5 >J 7@C>6C E62>>2E6D H:== 36 E96C6]k^Am

kAm%96 42==:?8 E@ qF772=@ H2D ;FDE 3=:DD7F=] x H2D `__[___T DFAA@D65 E@ 36 :? qF772=@ E96D6 =2DE 7@FC J62CD] xE’D H96C6 v@5 H2?E65 >6 E@ 36] xE’D H96C6 v@5 42==65 >6 E@ >2<6 2? :>A24E[ 2?5 :E’D H96C6 v@5 =65 >6 E@ 7C:6?5D x’== 92G6 7@C E96 C6DE @7 >J =:76] p?5 C:89E ?@H[ v@5 :D 42==:?8 >6 E@ 8@ E@ |:??62A@=:D] x 2> 2?I:@FD] xV> 6I4:E65] xV> ?6CG@FD[ 3FE x <?@H E92E :EVD E96 C:89E A=246 7@C >6]k^Am

kAm%96C6 H2D 2 A@:?E E9C@F89 7C66 286?4J H96? E96 q:==D 925 2=C625J 28C665 E@ E6C>D H:E9 2 5676?D:G6 E24<=6 @C EH@[ 2?5 :E H2D 4=62C E92E E96J <:?5 @7 7@F?5 E96:C 8FJD] p?5 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[ E96C6 H2D 2 8@@5 8C@FA @7 @E96C @C82?:K2E:@?D E92E H6C6 E2=<:?8 E@ >J 286?ED 2?5 D6?5:?8 @FE C62==J C6DA64E23=6 @776CD] x 5:5?VE 492D6 >@?6J 3J 2?J >62?D] %96C6 H6C6 @E96C 4@?EC24ED @FE E96C6 E92E J@F >:89E D2J E92E H6C6 “36EE6C” E92? E96 @?6 x 2446AE65] qFE E96 D:EF2E:@? 2?5 962C:?8 9@H >F49 E96 ':<:?8D 86?6C2= >2?286C 2?5 9625 4@249 G2=F65 >6 2D 2 A6CD@? 2?5 2D 2 A=2J6C[ 2?5 86EE:?8 E96C6 :? A6CD@?[ C62==J 46>6?E65 E92E]k^Am

kAmpE 7:CDE[ >J 962CE H2D 3C@<6?] x 4C:65 H96? x 7@F?5 @FE E92E x H2D?VE 8@:?8 E@ 36 324< :? qF772=@] qFE :E BF:4<=J EC2?D:E:@?65 E@ 2== 6J6D 2?5 2== >J 7@4FD E@H2C5D |:??6D@E2] p?5 H96? x 8@E E96C6[ 2== >J 9@A6D H6C6 277:C>65 2?5 AC@G6? C:89E H:E9 9@H H6== E96J G2=F6 >6 E96C6]k^Am

kAmxV> D@ 6I4:E65 E@ 36 2 A2CE @7 E92E[ 2?5 x 9@A6 E92E >J !=2J>2<6CD[ >J 72?D 2?5 >J 7C:6?5D E92E xVG6 >256 :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C< 42? ?@H 4966C 7@C E96 ':<:?8D `e @7 E96 `f 82>6D E9:D J62C]k^Am

kAmq642FD6 @7 E96 2>2K:?8 E:6D x 92G6 E@ (6DE6C? }6H *@C<[ x’G6 925 2 =@E @7 72?D H9@VG6 C624965 @FE 2?5 D2:5 9@H >F49 E96JV== >:DD >6[ 6G6? D2J:?8 E96:C <:5D H6C6 4CJ:?8 H96? E96J 7@F?5 @FE x H2D?VE 8@:?8 E@ 36 324<] qFE 282:?[ 6G6? E9@F89 x H@?VE 36 E96C6 :? E96 72==[ xV== DE:== 36 2C@F?5 :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<] %9:D :D 2 8C62E DE6A 7@C >6 2?5 >J 72>:=J]k^Am

kAmx H2?E E@ C6:E6C2E6 E@ 2== E96 72>:=:6D E92E xVG6 6G6C >6E[ E96 A6@A=6 2E ~:D96: r9:=5C6?VD w@DA:E2=[ q@C?92G2[ w:89!@:?E6[ $A64:2= ~=J>A:4D[ &?:7:65 $A@CED[ 2== @7 >J A=2J>2<6CD :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<[ E92E xV> DE:== 96C6[ 2?5 xV> DE:== 7C:6?5D @7 J@FCD] *@FVC6 DE:== 2 A=2J>2<6C 7@C6G6C] xV> 8@??2 DE:== AFE @FE 492==6?86D E@ J@F 8FJD] %9:D :D ?@E 6?5:?8 ;FDE 3642FD6 x’> =62G:?8]k^Am

kAm|J 7@F?52E:@? 92D ?6G6C 366? ;FDE 2 A=2E7@C> 7@C >6 E@ 766= 8@@5 23@FE >JD6=7 7@C 5@:?8 E9:?8D H:E9 E96 4@>>F?:EJ] x’G6 ?6G6C =@@<65 2E :E 2D D@>6E9:?8 H96C6 x ;FDE D9@H FA E@ 2? 6G6?E 2?5 H2:E 7@C D@>6 @E96C DA@?D@CD E@ 5@ D@>6 E9:?8D]k^Am

kAm%9:D 92D 366? >J =:76]k^Am

kAmx7 x H2D?VE 2 7@@E32== A=2J6C[ E96C6VD 2 8@@5 492?46 E92E x H@F=5 H@C< :? E96 ?@?AC@7:E H@C=5[ 3642FD6 :EVD DF49 2 3:8 A2DD:@? @7 >:?6[ 6DA64:2==J H:E9 E96 A@AF=2E:@? E92E x H@C< H:E9i 49:=5C6? 2?5 J@F?8 25F=ED H:E9 56G6=@A>6?E2= 5:776C6?46D @C DA64:2= ?665D] $@ H96? x 7@F?5 @FE x H@F=5 36 =62G:?8[ :E H2D =:E6C2==J =:<6[ “w6J[ J@FVC6 >@G:?8 `d 9@FCD[ `e 9@FCD 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[ 2H2J 7C@> b__ 72>:=J >6>36CD]”k^Am

kAm%92EVD C62==J H92E :E 76=E =:<6i p== >J 72>:=J :D 8@:?8 E@ 86E E@ 36 E@86E96C :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<[ 2?5 x’> 8@:?8 E@ 36 E96 3=24< D966A E92E =62G6D >J H9@=6 72>:=J] %92EVD H92E >J A=2J>2<6CD 2C6 E@ >6i >J 72>:=J]k^Am

kAmxVG6 2=C625J DE2CE65 42==:?8 E96 2AAC@AC:2E6 A6@A=6 E@ DE2CE 2 492AE6C @7 w2CC:D@?’D !=2J>2<6CD :? |:??6D@E2] x’G6 925 96=Ai p 4@FA=6 @7 qF772=@ 72?D 92G6 C624965 @FE E@ >6[ 6G6? :7 E96JVC6 ?@E 277:=:2E65 H:E9 >J @C82?:K2E:@?] q:==D 72?D 92G6 D6?E >6 2?5 >J 72>:=J >6DD286D[ D2J:?8[ Qw6J[ >J 3C@E96C\:?\=2H :D 2 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? E62496C :? |:??62A@=:D[Q @C Q|J 2F?E 92D <:5D H:E9 DA64:2= ?665D :? |:??6D@E2[ 2?5 E96J H2?E E@ 364@>6 A=2J>2<6CD]Q $@ E96 72?D :? qF772=@ 2C6 6I4:E65 7@C E96 :>A24E x 42? >2<6 :? 2?@E96C }u{ 4:EJ[ H9:49 8@6D E@ D9@H 9@H DA64:2= q:==D 72?D 2C6] %92E E96J H2?E |:??6D@E2 E@ 92G6 E9@D6 D2>6 36?67:ED E92E qF772=@ 72?D D2H]k^Am

kAm|J 3:886DE BF6DE:@? E@ 2== @7 J@Fi s@6D 2?J@?6 <?@H :7 x==:@ s:!2=@VD[ :7 q2C\q:==[ :7 #2496=VD 2== 56=:G6C E@ |:??62A@=:Dn x7 D@[ A=62D6 =6E >6 <?@H H9@ x ?665 E@ 4@?E24E[ 3642FD6 xV> C62==J 8@??2 >:DD E96>]k^Am

kAmp?5 @?6 @7 E96 92C56DE E9:?8D E@ DH2==@H :D E96 724E E92E x H@?VE 36 :? E96 D2>6 =@4<6C C@@> H:E9 >J D2>6 E62>>2E6D E9:D J62C] xVG6 ?6G6C[ 6G6C 366? 2 A2CE @7 2 E62> H:E9 DF49 2==\4=2DD 8FJD]k^Am

kAmxVG6 ?6G6C 925 2 36EE6C E62>>2E6 2?5 36EE6C 7C:6?5 E92? y@D9 p==6?] w6 H2D E96 7:CDE A6CD@? x 42==65 27E6C :E 92AA6?65] x H6?E FADE2:CD[ E@=5 >J A2C6?ED[ 2?5 E96? x H6?E 5@H?DE2:CD 2?5 u246%:>65 y@D9] (6’== 92G6 =@G6 7@C 6249 @E96C 7@C E96 C6DE @7 @FC =:G6D]k^Am

kAmp?5[ @3G:@FD=J[ u246%:>6 >2<6D DE2J:?8 :? E@F49 62D:6C] qFE >J 7C:6?5D9:A H:E9 9:> 8@6D D@ >F49 566A6C] p?5 3642FD6 H6’C6 DF49 8@@5 7C:6?5D[ xV> 9@A:?8 E92E 96 8@6D 29625 2?5 =6ED >6 86E 2 D24< E9:D D62D@?] x 9@A6 96 =6ED >6 E2<6 9:> 5@H?] ~C[ 2E E96 G6CJ =62DE[ x 9@A6 E92E 96 5@6D?VE ;F<6 >6 @FE @7 >J D9@6D E9:D D62D@? H96? x 92G6 E@ ECJ E@ 492D6 9:> 5@H?]k^Am

kAmxV> E92?<7F= E92E x H6?E E@ $E2?7@C5[ 3642FD6 xV== 36 23=6 E@ 42=4F=2E6 9@H >2?J >:=6D x ?665 E@ =62G6 @? >J 42C :? @C56C E@ 4@>6 324< E@ 86E >J @:= 492?865 2E (6DE w6CC] x 2=D@ H2?E E@ E92?< ~$r |2?F724EFC:?8[ 2?5 xV> 9@A:?8 E92E E96J 42? D@>69@H 86E @FE E@ |:??6D@E2 E@ 96=A 3F:=5 >J ?6H 9@FD6]k^Am

kAmxV> D@ E92?<7F= 7@C 2== E96 E9:?8D E92E (6DE6C? }6H *@C< E2F89E >6] w@H E@ 62E 49:4<6? H:?8D :? 23@FE `d 5:776C6?E H2JD] w@H 3=F6 4966D6 :D 36EE6C E92? C2?49] %@ y:> z6==J 2?5 s2G:5 z6C?[ 7@C D9@H:?8 >6 9@H E@ D?@H>@3:=6 2?5 9F?E :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<[ 2?5 7@C E96 4@F?E=6DD EC:AD E@ ~C2?86 %96@CJ E@86E96C] x’> 6G6? 8C2E67F= 7@C E96 E:>6D E92E e_\J62C\@=5 y:> 2?5 s2G:5 H@F=5 362E >6 :? 4=2DD 3J 86EE:?8 >@C6 $A=2E !@:?ED 2?5 CF3 :E :? >J 7246[ 6G6? :7 x H2D 4@>:?8 @77 2 !2EC:@ED 82>6 2?5 6IEC6>6=J D@C6]k^Am

kAmx H2?E E@ D2J 2 3:8 “J@FVC6 H6=4@>6” E@ 2== @7 >J 72G@C:E6 8@=7 4@FCD6D :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<] %@ ~C492C5 !2C< r@F?ECJ r=F3[ qC:2CH@@5 2?5 rC28 qFC?i *@FVC6 H6=4@>6 7@C ?@E 42FD:?8 >@C6 5:G@ED[ 9:EE:?8 >@C6 42CD 2?5 5C:G:?8 E96 42CE H96C6 E96 42CE D9@F=5?VE 36] *@FC 4@FCD6D H:== 36 :? 36EE6C D92A6 ?@H E92E xV> 8@?6]k^Am

kAmxEVD 366? 2? F?36=:6G23=6 =2DE 7@FC J62CD[ 2?5 x 42?VE H2:E E@ 86E 324< E@ G:D:E] %9:D :D?VE 2 8@@53J6[ (6DE6C? }6H *@C<] %9:D :D 2 D66 J@F =2E6C]k^Am