A little over half way through WWII, Winston Churchill famously said “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” As then, the world has been in the grip of turmoil with victories, defeats, and glimmers of hope that the end was in sight. And while there are differences in the challenges the world faced then and now, there are also similarities. The world continues to turn with skinned knees and first bike rides, new homes and new babies, weddings and anniversaries, and the holiday season that begins with thanks and ends with gratitude.
I would like to begin by thanking our Members who took the time to complete the Annual Member Survey and provide us with your feedback. Your input is crucial to maintaining smooth operations and we have made it a priority to address your requests. If you have feedback outside of the survey period, we are always available to hear your thoughts via Customer Service.
As life slowly returned to a “new normal,” we at Navy Mutual found our footing in a new hybrid work environment. After celebrating the Fourth of July, we reopened our headquarters, with many of our newest employees meeting their coworkers in person for the first time since being hired. An outdoor barbeque gave us all time to reconnect safely before turning our eyes towards closing out the second half of the year.
One of our greatest accomplishments of 2021 was bringing Navy Mutual to another location in Virginia: Virginia Beach. We opened our new office on our 142nd birthday, complete with cake and speeches. Our representatives take walk-ins and scheduled appointments, and we’re always available by phone. If you’re local to the Virginia Beach area, we would love for you to come say hi.
In addition to providing local representation to a large military population, we also made smaller service efforts throughout the year. We sponsored an episode of “Military Makeover” and helped a two-veteran family achieve a home renovation in thanks for their service. We regularly donate meals to families staying in Fisher Houses near our nation’s capital. We continue to support Wreaths Across America, with plans to volunteer for the event on December 18 at Arlington National Cemetery.
I would also like to take a moment as I end to share our appreciation and gratitude for our Members. We wouldn’t be who we are without all of you and we will be here, one phone call away, ready to serve whenever you need us.
I hope the holiday season and the quiet of winter brings you moments of happiness and peace with your loved ones.
It remains an honor to serve.
Rear Admiral Brian E. Luther, USN (Ret.)
President and CEO