|
In Honor Of
Our American Engineers
The week of February 21, 2008 has been dedicated as National Engineers’ Week. I would like to
take this opportunity to congratulate and honor the members of the Engineering Community.
I commend you for your many accomplishments and contributions to our society and our great nation.
To those who have worked in the defense sector, we owe a special gratitude because your
contributions have kept our country safe and free from aggression. Our cities and shores have been
free from bombings and invasion because of our nation’s military, technological strength and your
engineering contributions.
To those in the commercial sector, we thank you for your contributions in too many areas to
mention. Your signature touches everything made by mankind, no matter how small and in every
industry. I can visualize the engineering effort that not only developed a product, but the equipment
used to manufacture and produce it. Your presence is everywhere.
You, the members of the engineering community, have made our lives safer, healthier, easier, more
enjoyable, more efficient and more productive to say the very least. You have done this often under
adverse conditions, through dedicated service and personal sacrifice, and for this, you also have our
appreciation and our gratitude.
You are a unique breed; the better you do your work, the sooner you will be without a job, without
an income and without a career. Knowing this, you always proceed and do your very best. Your
function is to design yourself out of a job. You have done this admirably.
However, I am proud to be a member of the engineering community, knowing that we function to
solve problems and move on to new challenges. I am proud, and you should also be proud, to be
members of a profession that has performed so outstandingly.
We are still concerned about the crisis in engineering unemployment, under-utilization, off shoring
and the importing of foreign workers. We will continue to tell others that our unemployed and
under-utilized members of the engineering community must not be forgotten. We are also concerned
about our students who are trying to enter the profession.
We must continuously strive for a manpower balance that provides our American engineers and
students with the opportunity to pursue their careers and enhance their engineering skills. We shall
prevail in this endeavor.
We thank you for your efforts, dedication and achievements. We applaud you and will tell the rest
of the world of your capabilities, willingness, readiness and desire to do even more.
God bless you all, not only during National Engineers’ Week, but also throughout the year.
Richard F. Tax,
President
|