Smyrna, DE – The Delaware Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced that Kent County Levy Court signed a Statement of Support for the National Guard and Reserve on Tuesday, December 15, 2009.  Presented by ESGR Chair Emeritus, Mr. Gene Hebert, the Levy Court read its ESGR Statement of Support, as part of the official minutes of the meeting.   Each Commissioner was presented with an ESGR lapel pin.  The employer has three employees who serve in the Guard or Reserve. 

Smyrna, DE – The Delaware Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced that Delaware Governor Jack Markell signed a Statement of Support for the National Guard and Reserve on Thurday, December 17, 2009.  The signing ceremony occurred at the River Road Training Facililty of the Delaware National Guard.

Los Alamitos.CA.  The California Committee of ESGR participated in a significant job event at this Southern California base recently.  The program was initiated by the Army Reserve and the National Guard signed on to help with employment for their soliders.  The effort was promoted by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Joint Council 42 and Helmet to Hard Hats.
 

December 17, 2009 in Northfield, MN – The Minnesota Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, is proud to announce that Matt Otte, truck supervisor of Taylor Truck Line Inc., was honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of his employee who serves in the Minnesota National Guard and Reserve.

(Great Falls, MT) – The Montana Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today that Bill Himmelberg, owner of Great Falls McDonalds was honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employee who serve in the 120^th Fighter Wing, Montana Air National Guard.

ARLINGTON, Va. – Across the nation, members of the National Guard and Reserve and their families have the opportunity to give the gift of thanks to supportive employers this holiday season by nominating them for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. National Guard and Reserve members and their families are encouraged to visit www.FreedomAward.mil through January 18, 2010 to nominate employers for the 15^th Anniversary Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. Award nominees will be recognized by the Department of Defense and announced in March 2010. The 15 award recipients will be announced in early summer. 

GROTON, Conn--The christening of the new USS Missouri Submarine (SSN-780) was recently held at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn.

Alexandria, VA – The National School Boards Association (NSBA) board of directors has endorsed the efforts of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (EGSR) to provide training for employers on the rights of workers who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

Atlanta, GA – James McGarrah, Chair of the Georgia Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (GA ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced that Senator Saxby Chambliss, United States Senator for Georgia, signed a Statement of Support for our men and women in uniform on December 14, 2009.  The signing ceremony was held at 10:30 a.m. at Senator Chambliss’ Office, 100 Galleria Parkway SE, Atlanta, GA 30339. 

PITTSBURGH, PA, December 17, 2009 -- On December 2^nd, singer, songwriter and musician, Lee Greenwood, ushered in the holiday season with a festive Christmas concert brimming with tradition and musical classics for a jubilant audience of community and military fans at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg, PA.  Attended by special guests from the 14^th Quartermaster Company, U.S. Army Reserve; the Department of Defenses’ Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve; and, Pittsburgh-based Military Family Network, and hosted by Latshaw Productions of Monroeville, PA, the spectacular performance captured the crowd’s imagination while Greenwood’s pleasant humor and storytelling wove together a magical tapestry of Christmas spirit.

Washington, DC - Mr. James G. Rebholz, National Chairman of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, appointed the following as new State and U.S. Territory Chairs of the Committees for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.  The oath of office was administered by the Honorable Dennis M McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. 

Twin Cities, MN— The month of November for the MN ESGR was driven by the theme, “multiple outcomes for a single event”.  This theme was made evident in the Statement of Support Signings with U.S. Bancorp and 3M Company.  

The Alabama ESGR Program was honored to have National ESGR Chairman, Mr. James Rebholz, attend our Quarterly Executive Committee meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, on November 9-11, 2009. Mr. Rebholz also attended National Veterans Day in Birmingham activities. He was seated at the head table and recognized as the National ESGR Chairman at the Veterans Day Awards Dinner on Tuesday, November 10. The Birmingham Veterans Day activities are recognized as the oldest and largest veterans celebration in the United States.

Little Rock, Arkansas – The Arkansas Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today that Dillard's was honored with  Patriot Awards in recognition of extraordinary support of its employees who serve in the Arkansas National Guard and Reserve.

AUSTIN, TX: Employers and civic leaders from across Texas and Soldiers in the Texas Army National Guard’s 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) will gather at Fort Bliss in EL Paso, Texas on November 19th and 20th to bid farewell to the troops. 

Under 5 U.S.C. 5538, employing agencies must pay differential payments to eligible Federal civilian employees who are members of the Reserve or National Guard (hereafter referred to as "reservists") called or ordered to active duty under certain specified provisions of law. Federal agencies must provide a payment—a "reservist differential"—equal to the amount by which an employee’s projected civilian "basic pay" for a covered pay period exceeds the employee’s actual military "pay and allowances" allocable to that pay period.

To read more, go to OPM.gov

Terry and Pattie Parks of the Alaska Aces accepted the Seven Seals Award from the Alaska ESGR Committee during the Marine Corps Birthday Ball 21 Nov 2009.

On Tuesday, November 17, 2009 Sergeant Richard Carroll of the Rhode Island Army National Guard and a Senior Analyst in Customer Accounts-Adjustments presented Patriot Awards to members of the Customer Accounts Department at Covidien.  Rich has been an active member of the Guard for 19 years and a Covidien employee for 10 years.

North Little Rock, Arkansas – The Arkansas Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today that Brenda Lewis, Manager, Customer Service Division, Department of Veterans Affairs was honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of her employee who serves in the Air Force Reserve.

 BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, commanding general, United States Army Reserve, visits with USAR service members to gain situational awareness concerning the Afghanistan Theater; gain firsthand knowledge of the conditions, progress and challenges; address issues regarding Reserve deployment policies, procedures, training, and quality of life., at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 30.

Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, NY -- At 11:30 am on Thursday, November 12, 2009, the Falcon Club here at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station hosted a commander's luncheon and ceremony to honor three local employers receiving the Patriot Award.

Traditionally, Military Appreciation Day at ECU is a chance for the university to thank the brave men and women who serve in our nation's armed forces by offering them a small token of our appreciation—tickets to a home football game—along with recognition by and showings of support from the Pirate Nation during the game. This year, however, the university was on the receiving end as the U.S. Department of Defense honored ECU for its support of National Guard and military reservists employed by the university.

Newport, NH – Mr Ted Kehr, Chairman of the New Hampshire Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced that the Sugar River Bank received a Statement of Support for the National Guard and Reserve on Thursday, November 19, 2009.  The recognition ceremony took place at their Newport, NH location, with the presentation being made by Chairman Kehr and Executive Director Jim Goss of the NH Committee.

On November 11th 2009, Montana’s senior United States Senator, Mr. Max Baucus joined with thousands of American Employers who have signed a Statement of Support with their local Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee. While attending a Veteran’s Issues Roundtable discussion in Great Falls, MT U.S Senator Baucus joined with the Montana ESGR State Chairman, Mr. Michael Flaherty, along with a group of ESGR volunteers and local military representatives to conduct a Statement of Support signing event. By signing with the MT-ESGR committee Senator Baucus publicly displayed his support of Montana’s National Guard and Reserve components, and their defense of our State and Nation.

Sue Wimmer, assistant director-protection management for Union Pacific Railroad was honored by Employment Support of the Guard & Reserve (ESGR) for her long-term outstanding support of Union Pacific’s employees who serve in the National Guard or Reserve forces.

Mr. Laurence G. O’Neil, SHRM President and CEO, Mr. William Maroni, Chief External Affairs officer, and Mr. Michael Layman, Manager of Labor and Employment took flight from Andrews Air Force Base on an ESGR Bosslift  hosted by the Air Force Reserve on a KC-135 Air Refueling Tanker.