The Greeneville Sun
Celebrating 25 Years Of The USS Greeneville
Stories 2 4 5 6 7
Purpose Service Projects Ce el bration Pre ss Confe er nce Tusculum Tour
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Page 2 • USS Greeneville • Saturday, August 7, 2021
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‘Know That The Greeneville Is Out There’ BY CAMERON JUDD ASSISTANT EDITOR
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n a world in which the international atmosphere resembles that of the Cold War, the most important role of the USS Greeneville today is deterrence, the 11th commanding officer of the boat, Marty Muckian, said July 4 at the banquet that capped off the 25th anniversary reunion of the boat’s crew and officers. The well-attended banquet was held in the General Morgan Inn and brought together personnel of the boat and people of the town for which the boat is named. Though the atmosphere of the gathering was celebratory and light-hearted on the whole, Muckian also took time to address the serious purpose of military submarines such as the USS Greeneville. Muckian said that, despite the nuclear submarine’s ability to wage war, the real purpose of the boat is not to wage war, but to SUN PHOTO BY CAMERON JUDD Dale Long, directly in front of the General Morgan Inn podium, helps USS Greeneville sailors hold a signed banner they presented to Long in honor of his deter it. initiation of the USS Greeneville naming and his subsequent leadership in maintaining ties between the town and boat ever since. The presentation to Long Muckian was one of occurred during the banquet that closed the 25th Anniversary Reunion here over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. six former commanding officers of the boat who The banquet included a booming.” with Russian submarines the United States, are far spoke at the banquet. The bright and rousing opening He also said that, should near our own West Coast. less likely to act on those current CO, Robert Lane, talk by Wayne Bettis, a the USS Greeneville ever Because of such circuminclinations. also spoke. leader in the original USS be forced to do battle, stances, “the world is The message the mere Leaders of powerful U.S. NAVY PHOTO The Los Angeles-class Greeneville local effort, who presence of the USS Green- different today” than it was something that so far has nations “know that the fast attack submanot happened, he is sure its recalled the excitement of when the USS Greeneville eville delivers daily to poGreeneville is out there,” rine USS Greeneville crew will follow their train- the “dirty dozen” group of first launched. tential opponents, he said, Muckian said, and also (SSN 772) returns project advocates as they Muckian said, “Life in the ing and “get the job done.” is that “today is not the day” know what the submarine to Joint Base Pearl traveled to the nation’s Other former COs who submarine today is similar for hostile action. is capable of doing. BeHarbor-Hickam after a six-month deployment capital city to lobby for their spoke were Duane Hatch, to what it was for submaAt present the world’s cause of that, problematic to the western Pacific cause, and did so effectively rines during the Cold War.” Scott Waddle, Gabriel nations such as Russia and largest navy is that of region in this 2011 For nuclear submarines and Anseeuw, Terry Nemec and China, he said, and the China, if inclined to agNavy photograph. SEE KNOW ON PAGE 3 Lorin Selby. their crews, “business is Russian navy is ascending, gressive hostilities against
On The Cover
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Saturday, August 7, 2021 • USS Greeneville • Page 3
U.S. NAVY PHOTO
The USS Greeneville enters the submarine base in Pearl Harbor in this file photo.
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despite the occasional awkward situations, such as travel snafus. Dale Long, who conceived the idea of having a boat named for Greeneville, spent much of the banquet in smiles and sometimes in tears as his years of devotion and hard work were recognized repeatedly by presenters. A pinnacle moment for him was the presentation by the sailors of a huge banner bearing the name of the boat, and hand-signed by crew members. He received other mementos and statements of appreciation throughout the evening as well. A difficult but proud moment for him was when he spoke emotionally of the passing of his longtime friend and fellow USS
Greeneville booster Ken Earl of Greeneville, whose wife was part of the banquet audience. Other presenters in the banquet included Mat Tanner, a plank owner of the boat who served from 1994 through 1999; State Representative David Hawk; Greeneville Mayor W.T. Daniels; Greeneville Fire Chief Alan Shipley; Greeneville Chief of Police Tim Ward; Main Street Greeneville’s Jann Mirkov; Tusculum University President Scott Hummel; and Trevor Kahland, Tusculum University student, USS Greeneville Scholarship holder and son of a former crew member. Others who spoke were other former COs and COBs, including eighth CO and now Rear Admiral Lorin Selby, chief of naval research, who emphasized the fundamental importance of the
human beings who utilize the overwhelmingly sophisticated technology of the nuclear submarine. Without the people who operate the boat, the technology would matter little, Selby said. The boat’s first COB, Stan Simmerman, recalled both his life on the submarine and his enjoyment of interaction with locals who led the boat-naming effort. He said that the boat was never the sailors’ boat, but the Town of Greeneville’s boat, and “we just had the pleasure of operating it for you.” Scott Waddle, CO of the USS Greeneville at the time it was involved in an international news-making accident involving the striking of a Japanese fishing boat, resulting in fatalities of some on the fishing boat, called his visit here “bittersweet,” but said that being
in Greeneville the town among fellow crew members from the submarine made him “feel safe” despite “horrific things that happened.” Waddle then spoke directly to the boat’s current CO, Robert Lane, and encouraged him to “enjoy this, sir,” referring to command of the boat. “It’s a blessing and a gift.” Other highlight moments from the evening included: • the presentation of thankyou cards made by local school children for USS Greeneville crewmen; • presentation and retirement of colors (flags) by members of the Greeneville Fire Department, whose uniforms bear a patch including an image of the USS Greeneville; • a revelation by Tusculum University’s Hummel that the
USS Greeneville scholarship has provided $500,000 worth of education so far; • a talk by Navy widow Lara Baily about the life of a Navy wife • recognition of Bob Herndon, who helped develop the boat-naming project • a slide show showing images of USS Greeneville life and history • an announcement that a 30th anniversary gathering already is in the works and promises to be an even bigger event than this year’s. The meal was prepared and served by staff members of the General Morgan Inn, who were brought out from the kitchen to resounding applause. The invocation and benediction was given by plank owner Eric Carlson. Plank owner Mat Tanner was master of ceremonies.
Page 4 • USS Greeneville • Saturday, August 7, 2021
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Sailors’ Service Projects Benefit Local Residents BY CICELY BABB STAFF WRITER Current and former USS Greeneville sailors participated in several service projects to benefit their ship’s namesake town on July 3. Projects included four houses where sailors teamed with Habitat for Humanity volunteers to work as well as the Greeneville Greene County Public Library and the Roby Fitzgerald Adult Center. The sailors and other volunteers worked from 9 a.m. until a little before 2 p.m., when they traveled to the home of Sarah Gregory on Newport Highway for a lunch of Chick-fil-A and homemade baked goods. Gregory’s home was one of the sites where sailors were working on with local Habitat for Humanity volunteers. “We’ve been helping clear out some old stuff from the second floor of the house, building a ramp, doing some landscaping and painting the porch,” said former USS Greeneville Captain Gabe Anseeuw, who was part of the crew at Gregory’s house. Vicki Culbertson, executive director of Greene County Habitat for Humanity, explained that the four projects on which sailors collaborated with regular Habitat volunteers included a range of tasks, as at Gregory’s home. “We’re just doing some things that these families need done inside and outside the house,” she said. “If you’re elderly or you have a disability, it can be hard to do some things for the upkeep of the home, so we’re just trying to help out with some of those things.”
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
A large crew of current and former USS Greeneville sailors and Habitat for SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB Humanity volunteers worked together to construct a ramp leading to Sarah Sailors and volunteers worked together to repaint Sarah Gregory’s porch. Gregory’s back door.
Gregory was active in volunteer and church outreach work in the community until last year, when she and her husband Dale both contracted COVID-19. “Dale and I got sick in October, and he passed away here at the house on the 16th,” Gregory said. For four days after the loss of her husband, Gregory said, she stayed alone in the house until, after she failed to answer or return her daughter Ellen Pittman’s multiple concerned phone calls, Pittman arrived with law enforcement for a welfare check, and Gregory was airlifted to the hospital. “The ER nurse told me that if I hadn’t come when I did, she’d have been gone,” Pittman said. Gregory said she was given a 10% chance of surviving the ordeal, but after 72 days in the hospital, she was discharged. She stayed with Pittman for some time before returning to her home in January, and she is still recovering from the illness and missing the man she said she was always in love
with since they were young and growing up together in Greene County. “It was hard being here just me. I miss him, and I miss doing our prayer cloth ministry with him, but I will see him again,” Gregory said. Gregory explained that as members of Crossroads Church, on a weekly basis, she and Dale anointed and prayed over prayer cloths, which they would bring to hospitals and nursing homes to give away. “Dale was full of life and laughter, and he loved his family,” Gregory said. Despite her significant trials in the past year, Gregory said she is blessed and that she was thankful for the crew at her home. “I am beyond blessed. God has put a lot of good people in my life,” she said. She said she will never forget the crew at her home. “It’s been great seeing old shipmates and meeting new ones all for the good of the community we signed up to serve,” Anseeuw, a Florida native who captained the submarine from 2014-2017, said.
Anseeuw said he was in town for the weekend before he will take over as captain for the USS Florida, and that this trip is not his first to Greeneville. “There’s something special about Greeneville,” he said, adding that the local pride in and bond with the ship parallels the high quality of the ship and its crews. “The ship has always been above par, and the crews are always incredible,” Anseeuw said. Culbertson agreed “the sailors are incredible. They were the ones who asked to work with us and to do a project. They are just awesome, and we are honored to work with them.” Commander of the Boat Robert Lane said the community service work began with the 20th reunion visit in 2016, when visiting crew members participated in a project to give the West Summer Street baseball complex Legion Field a face lift. “The group wanted to do something to support and give back to the community that shares our name,” he
said. This year, in the 25th reunion and Lane’s first time visiting Greeneville, Lane was helping to build a ramp for a community member and clearing out some brush that was growing into the homeowner’s carport, Lane said, before he joined the other current and former crew members, volunteers and community members at Gregory’s home for lunch. “We’re so happy we were able to come out and work on these projects. I think the guys really got a lot out of it,” Lane said. “We are just honored to have this opportunity to work with these sailors and to have the chance to help four families in the community who are in need,” said Culbertson. She said with the sailors’ help, July 3 was the biggest service day for Greene County Habitat for Humanity. “We have never done anything to this scope where we have done a blitz of houses like this,” she said. In a press release she wrote that in addition to the jobs done at Gregory’s and
similar ones at the other sites, other tasks included pressure washing, cleaning gutters and replacing batteries in smoke alarms and bulbs in overhead light fixtures. Including Gregory’s, three ramps were constructed Saturday and a fourth was cleaned and painted with a protective sealant. “The homeowners were overjoyed to receive the help,” Culbertson wrote. “It was a beautiful day filled with hard work, joy, laughter, and compassion leaving us with a greater respect for all these USS Greeneville sailors and gentlemen.” “We’ve had a great time doing all these events and interacting with the community,” Lane said. “This has been awesome.” “These selfless, hardworking sailors left a positive impact in our community, giving of themselves and their time to help others. Their caring, kindness and willingness to help others they’ve just met is remarkable,” Culbertson wrote. “This, my friends, pure and simple, is the meaning of ‘humanity.’”
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Saturday, August 7, 2021 • USS Greeneville • Page 5
Explosive Start Kicks Off ‘Best Ever’ Celebration
BY CAMERON JUDD ASSISTANT EDITOR
Past and present crew members of the USS Greeneville nuclear submarine came to town quietly, then on July 3 made their presence known in a literally explosive manner. The sailors officially signaled the kickoff of the town’s Independence Day celebration by firing a cannon four times on the lawn of the Niswonger Institute headquarters on Main Street just after 5 p.m. What sounded like bombardment of the town actually was a loud beginning to what an event organizer called the best local Independence Day celebration to date. Most of the sailors involved in the cannon shoot wore T-shirts provided for the noisy, smoky event. Officers and current crew members were in uniform. The submariners had just completed a morning of work on community projects. The cannon was set off at least four times and generated a deafening boom and great cloud of smoke with each blast. Both observing and taking part in the firing were present and former submariners of USS Greeneville, including some past commanding officers, or COs, of the boat. One of the latter, Lorin Selby, is now a U.S. Navy rear admiral. After a quick tour through the Niswonger Foundation building on July 3, the sailors had some afternoon free time to join the local celebration or enjoy other activities. With moderate weather for the first half of the day, and with COVID-19 far less of a
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN/AMY ROSE
SUN PHOTO BY CAMERON JUDD
As white-clad USS Greeneville personnel look on, a cannon blast on the lawn of the Niswonger Foundation marks the official opening of the weekend celebration of Independence Day.
concern than it was last year, the day seemed tailor-made for a community celebration. The Big Spring area between the downtown library and the State of Franklin capitol replica was crowded, as was the neighboring parking area of Walters State Community College, where food vendors had long lines of hungry customers throughout the day. Amy Rose, Greeneville public relations manager, said afterward that precise figures on attendance throughout the day were not known, but generalized it as “thousands.” Rose told The Greeneville Sun, “Our ninth annual event was our best ever, especially our nighttime parade. We had record participation and our largest crowd of spectators. The weather was perfect, and it was great to see so many people of all ages come out to celebrate with us. I think they were ready to get out and get together following the past year.” She praised the team of people who worked to bring the celebration about,
including John Brown and John Price, who kept the stage shows running and also performed together in their band The Flying J’s. Price, who operates a hot dog vending cart in Greeneville, operated his hot dog stand and also provided Nathan’s brand hotdogs for one of the day’s most crowd-drawing events, a hot dog-eating contest styled after the famous contest on Coney Island. This year’s contest sponsors were Top Dog, which is Price’s business, and Tony’s Restaurant. The 2021 winner was Brad Broyles, giving him three consecutive victories in the contest. He downed 10 hotdogs, just missing the contest’s record of 11, set by Broyles himself in 2019. Broyles said he prepared for the contest by stomach-stretching, eating 3.6 pounds of watermelon the previous day, along with 1.6 pounds of mixed vegetables and great volume of fluids, plus an additional half-gallon of water he drank early in the
A parade under darkening skies drew a large crowd of observers to downtown Greeneville to honor American independence as well as visiting sailors of the USS Greeneville submarine, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the town’s namesake boat.
afternoon of the event. Coming in second was Ray Whaley, who devoured seven hotdogs, then afterward told a reporter in seeming seriousness that he was going to “get something to eat.” Though there is no thirdplace honor given in the contest, first-timer Daniel Willis got down one hotdog per minute in the five-minute eating time. Another first-timer, Greeneville’s Phil Shelton, entered the contest at the last second, stepping in when an entrant failed to show and a volunteer for the pre-paid contest slot was sought from the crowd. A relative of Shelton’s whispered to a reporter that Shelton was just entering “for the free food.” The jovial, high-spirited man managed to down two hotdogs and a large bite of a third one during the allotted time. The well-attended parade began about 9 p.m., with the USS Greeneville delegation leading the way on their flatbed truck and receiving cheers, applause and greet-
ings as they progressed. The crowd for the parade near the main downtown library was so big that it was difficult for some of the largest parade vehicles to make it through, Rose said. Businesses, churches, both major political parties and a few state and local political figures all took part in the parade, which began as the day waned and ended in the dark. Rose said that parade winners were: first place Gypsy Soul Market; second place Andrew Johnson Bank; and third place Apex Bank. Rose said that Chan Humbert, parade coordinator, “knocked it out of the park.” Fireworks kicked in at 10 p.m. Saturday night, filling the sky above the GHS stadium area with multi-colored light and reverberating sound. Rose said of the day: “This event would not happen without the hard work of volunteers and city employees and the generous support of our sponsors.” Sponsors were Waste
Industries, Andrew Johnson Bank, Ballad Health, Gateway Ford, ETI Transportation, Apex Bank, General Morgan Inn, Greeneville Federal Bank, Greeneville Flyboys, Greeneville Light & Power System, Greeneville Oil & Petroleum, MECO Corporation, TEVET, Consumer Credit Union, Creamy Cup, Food City, Gypsy Soul Market, Heritage Community Bank, John Deere Power Products, Miller Industries, Publix, Summers Taylor, and Walmart Logistics. On July 4, sailors took part in a poolside gathering and cookout at the home of Dale Long, who is considered “the father of the USS Greeneville” in that he was the originator and driving force of the effort to get a submarine named for the town. The culminating event of the holiday weekend turned the spotlight back on USS Greeneville sailors, who gathered with locals and other visitors for a closing banquet at the General Morgan Inn Sunday evening.
Page 6 • USS Greeneville • Saturday, August 7, 2021
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USS Greeneville Will Be Around Awhile Yet, CO Says BY CAMERON JUDD ASSISTANT EDITOR Though the USS Greeneville is eligible for decommissioning, Navy officials instead have approved it for refueling, which means the boat could remain in service as long as about 20 years more, Commander Robert Lane said in Greeneville on July 2. The boat “could be around for a long time to come,” he said during a press conference on the terrace of the General Morgan Inn & Conference Center. Refueling a nuclear submarine is a months-long process due to safety protocols PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN/STS1 (SS) R.W. BACA USS Greeneville Commander Robert Lane speaks at a press conference on the terrace of necessitated by the nuclear fuel, Lane said after the press the General Morgan Inn & Conference Center. Members of the USS Greeneville crew were in town celebrating the 25th anniversary of the submarine’s commissioning and Independence conference. This means the Day with residents of the boat’s namesake city. boat will be dry-docked for about two years while spent fuel is removed and properly dealt with, and new fuel is put in place. Lane was in Greeneville with many of the boat’s crew to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the nuclear fast-attack submarine named after this town. Also in town were former crew members. The sailors lodged with host families or stayed in local hotels as they helped the Town of Greeneville celebrate Independence Day. USS Greeneville crew members and their families SUN PHOTO BY CAMERON JUDD USS Greeneville crew members past and present and their families were welcomed to a served as grand marshals “meet-and-greet” event at the General Morgan Inn. Signing in at far right is Eric Carlson, who in the town’s Fourth of July is a “plank owner,” or a member of the submarine’s original crew. parade. every function on the boat important ones in the U.S. John Render, current chief boat, and be prepared to respond Navy. Former USS Greeneville of the boat, or COB, greeted to a wide array of situations The COB position on a COB Stan Simmerman amthe town and declared it is that could arise. submarine is particularly plified Render’s comments, “a joy to be in Greeneville.” He described the job as challenging in that the COB noting that, in his view, a He also described the duties providing an “interface must understand almost associated with his job on the COB’s job is one of the most
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN/STS1 (SS) R.W. BACA
Trevor Kahland, the son of a USS Greeneville crew member who is attending Tusculum University on a scholarship set aside for members of the submarine’s crew and their families, speaks at the news conference.
between the commanding officer and the crew members.” Simmerman also spoke of his first visit to Greeneville soon after the boat was named, and how he and other uniformed Naval personnel stood in line at a local McDonalds, where some young men proudly informed them that they were in a town whose name was on a US Navy nuclear submarine. Greeneville’s Dale Long, president of USS Greeneville, Inc., recounted the grassroots history of how the boat came to be named after this small East Tennessee town, and assured the sailors that “Greeneville loves you people, and this is your home.” Bob Rediske, a “plank holder” of the boat, (Navy jargon meaning that he was was a member of the crew when the submarine was commissioned) now lives in Greene County and in his comments praised the submarine and the town for which it is named. Other former crew members are house-hunting in Greene County now, he said. Trevor Kahland, 21-yearold son of plank owner Travis
Kahland, expressed his appreciation for Greeneville and his happiness at being able to attend Tusculum University through the USS Greeneville Scholarship. He has about a year of school remaining and is looking toward a career involving forestry. At present, Kahland works at Aubrey’s restaurant while attending school and does volunteer work in Cherokee National Forest. Being in Greeneville for the past three years has given him a love of the mountains here. “I’m not going back to Nebraska anytime soon,” the native Nebraskan said. Mat Tanner, former fire control technician on the USS Greeneville, briefly explained the origin of the “plank holder” or “plank owner” phrase. It goes back to the early days of sailing, when ships were made of wood. Original sailors on those ships were given a plank from the ship in honor of their status. Eventually, USS Greeneville plank owners will receive some small piece of the submarine whenever it is decommissioned, he said.
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BY CICELY BABB
A Tour Ashore
STAFF WRITER USS Greeneville sailors toured Tusculum University on July 1, which was among their first stops while visiting Greene County for the 25th anniversary of the nuclear submarine’s commissioning. Tusculum offers a fullride scholarship each year to a USS Greeneville sailor or their spouse or children. The sailors were joined by some family members as well as Trevor Kahland, a rising Tusculum University senior attending the university cost-free through the scholarship program. His father Travis Kahland served on the vessel as a member of its first crew, and Kahland said he is studying environmental science and criminal justice with plans of becoming a park ranger or game warden in the area. The group was welcomed by Tusculum University President Dr. Scott Hummel, who said in his first year in Greene County and in his position at the university, one of the first things he learned about the area was how proud local residents are of the USS Greeneville. “Very quickly I recognized how proud Greeneville and Tusculum are of the relationship with the USS Greeneville,” he said. Hummel discussed the university’s long history as an institution of higher education where former president Andrew Johnson learned. He also said that George Washington gave
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Dr. Scott Hummel greets the visiting USS Greeneville sailors outside of the campus welcome center.
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
The USS Greeneville sailors paused on their Tusculum University campus tour to take a group photo at the arch. Dr. Scott Hummel, president of the university, and Robert Zirkle, an enrollment representative who led the groups tour, joined the photo at the far left and right.
an early donation of $100, which he noted “was worth
a lot more in his day.” Then, Hummel joined
the group on their tour led by Robert Zirkle, a Tuscu-
Saturday, August 7, 2021 • USS Greeneville • Page 7
lum graduate and enrollment representative. Zirkle and Hummel focused much on Tusculum’s history, including both the Garland Library, which sailors learned was originally a Carnegie Library, and the President Andrew Johnson Library and Museum. Zirkle also pointed out the Old Oak. “Tusculum is the oldest university in Tennessee, and that tree was here before Tusculum,” Hummel told the group. The tour also included visits to newer parts of campus including the cafeteria, the gym and the Meen Center, but the libraries were highlights for sailor Cole Jorgensen of Franklin, Tennessee, and Chief of the Boat Jon Render, originally from Dallas, Texas. “The library was amazing,” Jorgensen said after the tour. “I really liked seeing all the old books in the old library, and where they said they had Andrew Johnson’s deathbed,” Render said. “That definitely stuck out to me to be able to walk through there and see a bunch of 1800s volumes.” Render said the group enjoyed the tour overall and that he planned to bring plenty of information about Tusculum back to the ship so sailors interested in attending, potentially on the annual scholarship Kahland has, can learn more. “It’s a beautiful campus. We were all talking about
that,” he said. “We’re going to get a bunch of materials from there to take back to the boat and make sure its available to the sailors. We’ve got at least one sailor that just recently got out who is interested, and I’m sure some others will be.” Render also said the group’s visit to Greeneville, his first time visiting, has been off to a good start. “People have been awesome. As we’ve started making the rounds, everybody has been super welcoming and friendly,” he said. Commander Robert Lane, originally from Houston, Texas, and also a first-time visitor to Greeneville, echoed the sentiment. “The amount of support and pride in Greeneville has been overwhelming. It’s amazing,” Lane said. Lane and Render presented Hummel with a new framed photo of the vessel, which Hummel said he was eager to hang in his office. “It is a great honor and privilege to host these guys and give them a tour of our beautiful and historic campus. We appreciate their service over 25 years, and we are honored to give an annual scholarship to them or their families,” Hummel said. Since the scholarship was started in 1995, when the ship was christened, it has funded 15 students’ education at the university, said Nicole Rader, director of alumni engagement and special events.
Page 8 • USS Greeneville • Saturday, August 7, 2021
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