Sawadtee Kup.  I am Tommy Sriyuktasuth, a twenty year employee of Delta Air Lines and it is my honor to be here with you this evening.

I’m here on behalf of all of my Delta 67 colleagues.  As a native of Thailand, the Mekong Build is very significant to me.  To have the opportunity to assist my fellow Thai citizens while working alongside of my coworkers, the Carters and all of you has truly been my privilege.

As the world’s largest global airline, my Delta colleagues and I are proud to have shared this time with you—our new global family.  We’ve had an incredible week with you.  This build has been awe-inspiring and one that none of us will ever forget.

I’d like to extend a special thank you to Jonathon Reckford and Habitat for Humanity.  Habitat and Delta have had a strong and productive partnership for many years.  In fact, earlier this year, we joined together in six of our hub cities in the U.S. to complete the first simultaneous six-city build—raising six houses in six communities in six weeks.

Six is also a significant number for us this week as it represents the number of houses our Delta team built.

Dedication of One of Delta's 6 Houses Built

Jonathon, you and your team are amazing.  Thank you for all you do.

I’d also like to recognize Dr. Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, the Chairperson of Habitat Thailand.  You and your team have gone to such incredible lengths to ensure we had a wonderful time here.

And of course you hold a particularly special place in our hearts.  Dr. Monthienvichienchai is the brother of Saratool Monthienvichienchai, a Delta employee who also joined us this week on the build.  We very much consider you part of the Delta family.  Thank you.

To the community of Chiang Mai—thank you for your warm and gracious hospitality.  You have made the nation of Thailand very proud.

And finally I’d like to thank all of the volunteers and each of the families.  On behalf of all of us at Delta, I offer you my sincere gratitude for allowing us to work alongside of you—building homes, building a community, and building dreams.

Delta's Force For Global Good, Thailand

Remarks given by Tommy S., Airport Customer Service, SFO

Hello everyone,
Today was the fourth day of our build in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and we were awakened with our usual daily wake-up call—the wonderful smells of chicken with cashew nuts, fried dough with sweetened sauce and dark roast coffee.

Our group has fully united as one Delta Force for Global Good by spending long days working in the intense sun of beautiful Chiang Mai—spending our time building walls brick by brick for our families, much like adding rungs to the ladder of opportunity and hope we’ve now helped provide by giving these families their own homes.

And as long as one has hope, anything can be accomplished. Khun Kumbao, the future owner of the home and his family, have been working side by side with us and a renewed sense of hope.

Working so closely with the family throughout this week has helped us develop strong relationship with the family. Last night was particularly special as the family joined us for dinner, where we met their children for the first time.

Not only have we bonded with the family, but our team has gotten the chance to really gel, we built not only working relationships but also lasting friendships.

Along with brick and mortar homes, we built the foundation and the stepping stones of success. But we have to ask the question of what does one define as success? For some it is to have to the career of their dreams and go to college, but for our Habitat families, success to them comes down to having the most basic necessities like a roof over their heads and a safe neighborhood where they can raise their children.

All of the families of this build will always be part of the Delta family and will remain in our thoughts and prayers forever.

Being of Thai heritage, this trip has been very meaningful in the sense that it has allowed me to connect with my native country on a new and personal level. My family is Thai and it makes one proud to be part of such a great cause. Sir Winston Churchill once said, “Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.”

I am proud to be associated with this great cause and this great company, one that adds both joy and glory to the climb.

Kelvin C., Global Assistance Center, ATL