As we look forward to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday in the US, I, like many of you, can’t help but reflect on the many people and things that I am especially grateful for this year. These past 20 months have been like no other time I’ve experienced in my life, and I’m so glad that many of us will be able to gather together again with family and friends to celebrate safely. Getting together at Thanksgiving, or indeed at any of the upcoming year-end holidays, no matter where you are, will be especially meaningful, as so many of us have been apart from those we love for an extended period of time. I hope as many of us gather with our loved ones this year, we all do so safely and with the proper precautions, including getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
I am also aware that some of us will be observing the upcoming holidays in a more muted way, due to losses of family members and friends to the COVID-19 virus, or due to the mental stress and challenges we have faced during this pandemic. My heart goes out to those who have suffered a loss and I encourage anyone struggling, especially during the holidays, to get help if you need it. Our Employee Assistance Program is available, even to family members.
Reflecting on the year we’ve experienced, I’m very grateful for the dedication of so many of our team members in all areas who have worked tirelessly to keep our businesses running safely, growing and thriving, despite the challenges we’ve faced. Thank you for your dedication and perseverance amidst the uncertainty of the past year. I’m also proud that as a Company, we are able to support our armed forces through the proud dedication of our people who support the mission every day in the field. While we are not finished with the pandemic, I am confident that because of your efforts, we will emerge a stronger and more vital organization. Thank you all.
I’m also grateful for all the first responders and health-care professionals who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, at great personal sacrifice. These often unsung heroes have touched so many lives, easing pain and providing comfort even at the darkest hours. To those who have family members in these professions, thank you for sharing your loved ones with us and please pass on our gratitude to them for helping to keep us safe.
These are just a few of the things that I am grateful for. I hope that as you gather with family and friends this year that you take the opportunity to reflect on and share the many things for which you are thankful. And please feel free to share anything you are thankful for in the comments below.
I wish you and your families a safe and happy Thanksgiving and holiday season ahead.
Hal Yoh is chair and chief executive officer of Day & Zimmermann, a leader in construction & engineering, staffing and defense solutions for leading corporations and government agencies around the world. He is the third generation of the Yoh family to lead Day & Zimmermann—a family-owned business and former recipient of the U.S. National Family Business of the Year award. As chairman and chief executive officer since 1999, Hal has helped shape the strategic growth that the company has achieved over the last few decades.