b'SCOTT AFB, ILThe Korte Company renovated Building 1600 at Scott Air Force Base, which serves as the Air Mobility Command Headquarters in Belleville, Illinois. The 314,000-square-foot renovation brings the command and control center up to current code and performance standards. We updated architectural and structural components. The team also upgraded life safety, power, lighting and telecommunications.CHALLENGE COINS: A TRADITION OF HONOR AND SERVICEThe story of the Challenge Coin traces back to World War I. An American pilot had bronze medallions struck for his unit, each stamped with their insignia. When his plane was shot down behind enemy lines, he was captured and stripped of his belongingsexcept for the medallion.Later, during a bombardment, he escaped and made his way to a French outpost. His accent aroused suspicion, and he was accused of being a German spy. Facing execution, he produced the medallion. Recognizing the insignia, his captors spared him and even handed him a bottle of wine.Word spread quickly. Soon, it became a tradition among American pilots: carry your coin or buy the next round. What began as a test of loyalty became a symbol of belonging, achievement and honor.At The Korte Company, we carry that same spirit of tradition forward. Few projects mean more than those weve delivered for the men and women who protect our nation. Since our first military installation at Scott Air Force Base nearly 40 years ago, weve completed over 500 projects for every branch of the Armed Forcesfrom child development centers to chemical warfare detection facilities, spanning Hawaii to Puerto Rico and bases across the country.When you design and build for the most powerful military force in the world, it speaks volumes about the caliber of your work. And with each project, its our honor to present a Challenge Coin to the unit or agency we serve. Its more than a token. Its a tradition that connects service, sacrifice and pride. Just as those pilots carried their coins as proof of identity, we offer ours as proof of commitment: We stand with you, and were proud of the facility you now call your own.86 87'