COVINGTON, Ky. (April 9, 2010) – The Department of Defense today honored 18 Northern Kentucky area employers with Patriot Awards in recognition of extraordinary support of their employees who serve in the Kentucky National Guard or Reserve.

Fort Story Joint Expeditionary Base, Norfolk, Va. – Vice Admiral Dirk J. Debbink, Chief Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force joined hands today with the Virginia Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, to recognize and honor five Virginia employers with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employee(s) who serve in the Navy Reserve.  

Charleston, WV - April 1^st was no joke for members of the Leadership Kanawha Valley class of the Charleston WV Area Alliance.  It was, instead, an exhilarating day for the forty class members as they experienced a full day of educational events that solidified their respect for members of WV Air and Army National Guard and for the value and economic impact the National Guard has on the local economy. 

HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (CTESGR) recently honored Aetna with its Pro Patria Award for its continued efforts on behalf of employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.

Issaquah, WA. – The Washington State Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today that two members of the management staff at Costco Wholesale were honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employees who serve in the Washington National Guard and Reserve.

Medford, MA. March 30, 2010  – The Massachusetts Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today the Middlesex County Sheriff James V. DiPaola of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex Sheriff’s Office was honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employee S/SGT Michael Iannelli of Billerica, MA who served in the United States Air Force Reserve 439th Civil Engineer Squadron, Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts. S/SGT Iannelli served during Operation Iraqi Freedom during FY 2009.

Concord, NH – PFC Ryan Wittershein, 237th MP Co, NHARNG, presented the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award to Mr. Jon Shepard, Manager, Loss Prevention, Sears, Concord, NH.  PFC Ryan requested the award to recognize Sears' superior support of employees who serve in the Guard or Reserve forces.  In conjunction with the award ceremony, Mr. Jon Shepard also signed a Statement of Support.

Alexandria, VA – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today that Mr. Don Dootson, Regional Director of Microsoft Federal Region, was honored with the Seven Seals Award in recognition of his support of the State of Washington Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve mission.

GREENSORO, N.C. --  The Welcome mat was out and the southern hospitality flowed like iced tea at a summer picnic.  The North Carolina Employer Support Awards Banquet was underway!
 

LINCOLN – Sgt. Dave Hayes of the Nebraska State Patrol was presented an ESGR Patriot Award and a handshake from Gov. Dave Heineman during a ceremony at the State Capitol.

The 26th Alaska State Legislature signed this citation honoring the Alaska committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.  The legislature acknowledged the important work ESGR members do to help Alaskans recognize the vital mission performed by the service men and women of the National Guard and Reserve.  Photo by Maj. Guy Hayes, Alaska National Guard Public Affairs
 

LINCOLN — In a recent ceremony, Glenda Pierce, UNL Law College Associate Dean, was presented an ESGR Patriot Award. Pierce was nominated for the honor by Lt. Col. Richard ‘Andy’ Kruse.

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 Danny Kennedy of Practice Plus was honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of his employee who serves in the Arkansas National Guard.

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 Aaron Ralls of Southwest Power Pool was honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employee who serves in the Arkansas Army Reserve.

Ashland, Ky. – The National Committee for Employer Support of The Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recently recognized Larri D. Terrell of King’s Daughters Medical Center (KDMC) as a patriotic employer.

When Cardinal Glennon cook Tracey Ahrens deployed to Afghanistan in September 2008, she thought the exceptional support—and sendoff party—from her bosses was something special.

Smyrna, DE  – Ms. Paulette Mason, Chair of the Delaware Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (DE ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced that Senator Tom Carper, United States Senator for Delaware, signed a Statement of Support for our men and women in uniform on March 19, 2010.  The signing ceremony was held at 11:00 a.m. at the Delaware National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Wilmington, DE.

RALEIGH, N.C. (Mar. 24, 2010) – Waste Industries USA, Inc., a company that provides solid waste
services to commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers throughout seven southeastern
states, was recognized Tuesday by the United States Department of Defense, North Carolina National Guard
for its commitment to employees who are members of the Armed Forces.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, an agency of the Department of Defense, recently recognized Daniel Call a partner at local accounting and tax firm Sikich LLP with the ESGR Above and Beyond Award in recognition of his office’s support to the Illinois ESGR Field Committee. 

Gov. Mark Parkinson signed a Statement of Support of the Guard and Reserve at the Topeka, KS, Capitol on March 16, 2010.  Present were members of the military from the Kansas Army National Guard, Kansas Air National Guard, and the US Coast Guard Reserves, Patriot Award designees and KS ESGR Committee members.

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 Judy Wooten, Chief Operating Officer and Dan Marchetti, Chief, Education and Quality of Arkansas Hospice were honored with Patriot Awards in recognition of extraordinary support of their employee who serves in the Air National Guard.