Sisters and Brothers, you can be proud of what we built and what we build. You can be proud of your contribution to our society, to our economy, to the quality of life that we help provide to our fellow citizens and the defense of our nations.

Just like the splice that bonds two pieces of rope into one, our lives are bonded through our membership in our union and our commitment to our cause. It is this bond that holds us together, that keeps us strong, each equal to the other, but each with a role and a purpose.

Our unity is our shield, our cause is just. Our union is our life's work. As we go forward, I know we will each meet our daily challenges with confidence in that which binds us together, our union, and with the courage to see our convictions through, to their success.

In closing, let me add this: As we face our adversaries throughout our next 125 years of service to our members, you can be sure that we will neither be gobbled up, nor will we be beaten down. We will persevere, we will prosper and we will succeed because we are Boilermakers.

Thank you. Thank you all, now let's move forward with a great 31st Consolidated Convention.