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Closing Thoughts From Howard
No matter how old you are, you have probably read or watched Winnie the Pooh. With famous quotes like, “A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside,” friendship and the feel-good experiences that happen in the book are memories that continue to resonate with generations.
While the story is seemingly carefree, what many people may not know is that author A. A. Milne was a veteran of both World Wars struggling to explain what war was all about to his young son when the idea for the book began to take form. One day, A. A. Milne took his son to the London
Zoo where they bonded over their favorite new animal, a little Canadian Black Bear named Winnipeg. Out of this visit and A. A. Milne’s personal experiences, Winnie the Pooh was born.
Sometimes in dark or scary times comes brilliance and light. This year, all of you have proven just this. Throughout a global pandemic, you showed that Wawa will always be a beacon in the night. You kept the stores bright, cheerful and running smoothly amidst the chaos of the outside world. You continued to make Wawa a home away from home, when the word “home” truly took on new meaning.
When you read or watch Winnie the Pooh, you come away with the notion that no matter what, everything will be okay. You also know that everyone experiences different emotions, be it Tigger’s excitement or Piglet’s shyness or even Eeyore’s sadness – and that’s okay. In the end, they are happy and
supportive because they have conquered something difficult together and leaned on one another to make that happen. You adjusted to and initiated new ways of working. You kept Wawa running seamlessly. You faced the biggest disruption of our lifetime calmly and professionally. You have made us stronger for the future.
This year, you all proved that we are truly 36,000 strong. You are more than a group of dedicated Associates. You are a Flock Flying in Formation. No matter what the wind currents may be, we will always soar to new heights together. You have helped us innovate, inspire and delight, and you’ve allowed us to find new ways to fulfill our customers’ lives, not only through technology but through teamwork.
“We’ll be friends forever, won’t we, Pooh?’ asked Piglet. ‘Even longer,’ Pooh answered.” Just like Pooh and Piglet’s friendship, your commitment to our Values and the spirit of Embracing Change will live on through our walls, stores and customers’ hearts forever.
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Howard Stoeckel, Vice Chairman