diff --git a/site/hero-launch-card.png b/site/hero-launch-card.png
index b37ffcf..1e57b84 100644
Binary files a/site/hero-launch-card.png and b/site/hero-launch-card.png differ
diff --git a/site/hero-launch-card.svg b/site/hero-launch-card.svg
index 22bb43f..3fa3f0d 100644
--- a/site/hero-launch-card.svg
+++ b/site/hero-launch-card.svg
@@ -57,11 +57,16 @@
   <text x="576" y="196" font-family="Segoe UI Variable Display, Segoe UI, sans-serif" fill="#0A1B33"
         font-size="56" font-weight="700" letter-spacing="-1.5">&#8220;Hold my beer&#8230;&#8221;</text>
   <path d="M596 220c88-7 178-9 252-6 32 1 62 4 84 8" stroke="#E5442C" stroke-width="6" fill="none" stroke-linecap="round" opacity="0.92"/>
+  <!-- The reply's own effective date: shipped the month before the retirement.
+       The window bleeds off the bottom edge, so the date sits under the quote
+       rather than on the announcement's baseline. -->
+  <text x="578" y="247" font-family="Segoe UI Variable Display, Segoe UI, sans-serif" font-size="22"
+        fill="#5C6371">Effective date: <tspan font-weight="600" fill="#0A1B33">August 2026</tspan></text>
 
   <!-- The application window, as it really is: Windows chrome, menu bar, a captured
        Power BI matrix, the floating pen palette, and a DAX panel with ink on top.
        Drawn at 1400x900 (the default window size) and bled off the bottom-right. -->
-  <g transform="translate(556 250) scale(0.485)">
+  <g transform="translate(556 262) scale(0.485)">
     <rect x="0" y="0" width="1400" height="900" rx="14" fill="#FFFFFF" filter="url(#winshadow)"/>
     <g clip-path="url(#winclip)">
       <!-- title bar -->
diff --git a/site/hero-launch.png b/site/hero-launch.png
index 70a97ff..69fafde 100644
Binary files a/site/hero-launch.png and b/site/hero-launch.png differ
diff --git a/site/hero-launch.svg b/site/hero-launch.svg
index b6a66b0..b00629a 100644
--- a/site/hero-launch.svg
+++ b/site/hero-launch.svg
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@
     <text x="72" y="566" font-size="27" fill="#B9C7DA">Retiring soon. Thank you for</text>
     <text x="72" y="602" font-size="27" fill="#B9C7DA">using Microsoft Whiteboard.</text>
 
-    <g transform="translate(72 706)">
+    <!-- Anchored to the same baseline as the reply's date below the window,
+         so the two effective dates read side by side. -->
+    <g transform="translate(72 916)">
       <rect x="0" y="-28" width="40" height="40" rx="8" fill="none" stroke="#8FA5C4" stroke-width="3"/>
       <path d="M0 -16h40M11 -28v-9M29 -28v-9" stroke="#8FA5C4" stroke-width="3"/>
       <text x="60" y="-6" font-size="26" fill="#DCE4EE">Effective date:</text>
@@ -219,4 +221,13 @@
     </g>
     <rect x="0" y="0" width="1400" height="900" rx="14" fill="none" stroke="#0A0C10" stroke-opacity=".18"/>
   </g>
+
+  <!-- The reply's own effective date, on the announcement's baseline: the
+       application shipped the month before the retirement takes effect. -->
+  <g font-family="Segoe UI Variable Display, Segoe UI, sans-serif" transform="translate(612 916)">
+    <rect x="0" y="-28" width="40" height="40" rx="8" fill="none" stroke="#6B7A90" stroke-width="3"/>
+    <path d="M0 -16h40M11 -28v-9M29 -28v-9" stroke="#6B7A90" stroke-width="3"/>
+    <text x="60" y="-6" font-size="26" fill="#5C6371">Effective date:</text>
+    <text x="60" y="30" font-size="26" font-weight="600" fill="#0A1B33">August 2026</text>
+  </g>
 </svg>