 The power of our weapons that win the military battle in Kosovo. But the peace can only be won by the human heart. The March 17, 2004 riots were obviously a big event while we were here last time. We didn't do any crowd riot control training really to speak of prior to coming here. But once the riots were over, we got shipments in of crowd riot control equipment. We began doing some training. We did some crowd riot control with shields, batons and helmets type training. We did that over the course of the next few months while we were here. I remember that they decided we'd all get pepper spray. So we all got pepper sprayed, not my favorite moment on the deployment. Because you have to get pepper sprayed and go through the gauntlet, not fun. I do remember it wasn't so much about training, it was kind of a mentality. We kind of come to Kosovo with the idea of we're just here and we're just going to be present and we're going to let this be and we're not going to set the world on fire. And we came back a little probably colder to the mission, not to say that we were mean. But our eyes were opened. So being here in Kosovo 17 years after the first time I've been here, there's been wild changes to the population, to the infrastructure. Pretty much everything is better than it was, which is to be expected after 17 years. But it is really hard to even imagine some of the places where I was back then. I don't even look the same now because of all the new buildings and houses and businesses that I've popped up. In some ways some things have never changed. The house that I knew to turn to Zagra, it's still there, they haven't fixed it. But the intersection where the riot was is like it never happened. So some things have changed dramatically and some things haven't changed at all. I jokingly talk about the very few changes there are in the blonde steel. I don't really have a minute time. There have been some. But it's the same rooms, it's the same brown paint. But some of the changes that have come have just been amazing. If you didn't appreciate what it was like to drive from Bond Steel to Pristina on the rolled road system, you don't know how much better it is. The battalion was preparing for the deployment in I would say early 2007. We did have leaders from the 1st to 1 13th Calorie come over to our battalion headquarters and educate us on what the environment was like in Kosovo and help us become familiar with the operational environment, shared some of their experiences with us, and overall just helped us be more prepared for that mission. We helped maintain a safe and secure environment during the period surrounding the Declaration of Independence. I think that was a critical time for Kosovo. Regardless of final status, regarding the status of the territory, what it becomes, I think that was a very critical time and we were able to maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement. And so that I think had a lasting impact because that probably other than 2004 was I think as far as I know the most critical time in the recent history. Many, not all, but many Kosovars appreciate our presence here. They understand and recognize the importance of K4 in providing a stable and secure environment so that the political dialogue can take place because without a stable and secure environment that dialogue would have a much more resistance or be more difficult to accomplish. I've had people approach me on the street and want to give me hugs even in the COVID environment and they want to shake hands and they're very appreciative and thankful. The deputy director for the Jalan region, Lieutenant Colonel Azizi, I met with him when I was in battalion S3 in 07 and 08, probably about monthly, maybe every two weeks sometimes. And we formed I think a great relationship and when I came back I was really looking forward to seeing him again. And I did have that opportunity probably about six weeks ago or two months ago and it was really, he looked like he hadn't changed a bit, it was amazing. It was great to see him again and we had a good long discussion. We picked up right where we left off, it was great. Probably before I left in 2008 I specifically remember asking him how long do you think K-4 will be here because I thought they've declared independence so probably just be a couple more years. And Colonel Azizi said, oh, K-4 will be here for a long time. And I actually joked around with him here just a couple of months ago and reminded him that he said that. I don't think he remembered saying that but he was right. Here we are, it's been 13 years and K-4 is still here and I don't see an end in sight honestly. As long as the status is not resolved, I think K-4 will continue to conduct operations here and contribute to the safe and secure environment.