My messages to you the past year have been focused on key areas of our Society: Posts, Academy of Fellows, Strategic Partners, SAME Foundation, and, until the Ides of March, I was going to discuss our Communities of Interest. We had been merrily traveling on the "Run to 2020 and Beyond" in our "Sprint to the Start of our Second Century," with the 2025 SAME Strategic Plan in hand and preparing for our Centennial Kickoff Celebration in the Society's birthplace, Washington, D.C. Then pandemic turned the world upside down. Many of you, like me, are either under "Stay at Home" orders or working remotely. Hopefully we will soon be beginning the journey back to normal, or something close to it; but we also know that COVID-19 will have had a material impact on our industry and many within it. While the reality we face is not what we expected, it will not cloud the path we are on. Rather, it will strengthen our resolve to help secure America's future, together. Let me look in the rearview mirror and tell you what I was fortunate to experience as your 100th President. Visiting every Region except Europe (the 75th Anniversary of Crossing the Rhine was delayed), I met so many dedicated members, Fellows, and volunteer leaders. I was fortunate to award President's Coins to several members, and what a thrill it was to celebrate the 100th birthday of Lt. Col. Bud Ossey, F.SAME, USA (Ret.), with USACE Portland District and the Portland Post, and later recognize him as a Distinguished Fellow. I am also grateful I was able to present Col. Jimmy Baggett, F.SAME, USAR (Ret.), of the Fort Worth Post, with a special Presidents Medal honoring his 60-plus years of service to SAME, shortly before his passing this spring. The Industry-Government Engagement events I participated in were all great venues of collaboration. The last that I attended was in Tulsa in early March, where for the Fun Run they gave me number 100. Thank you all for showing me your energy and dedication.
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