SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A volunteer from Sioux Falls was awarded the National Guard Association of the United States’ Patrick Henry Award for exceptional service Sept. 12 during a ceremony in Nashville, Tenn.

Hot Springs, Arkansas – The Arkansas Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today that the Hot Springs Office of the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services was honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employees who serve in the Arkansas National Guard and Reserve.

St. JOSEPH, Mo. – More than 30 employers from the St. Joseph and Kansas City, Mo., areas got on board with the 139th Airlift Wing Wednesday at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana – The Louisiana Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today that on August 20th 2009 the Louisiana Department of Public Safety/Capitol Detail Captain Virginia Holmes Commander of the Detail was honored with a “Patriot Award” in recognition of extraordinary support of its employees who serve in the Louisiana National Guard and Reserves.

Smyrna, DE – The Delaware Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced that Ms. Lynda A. Messick, President & CEO of Community Bank Delaware signed a Statement of Support for the National Guard and Reserve on Tuesday, September 8, 2009.  The signing ceremony occurred at the bank’s Rehoboth location.

DES MOINES, Iowa – September 8, 2009 – Three Iowa employers received the Iowa Freedom Awards in a ceremony today with Governor Chet Culver, Dick Rue, chairman of the Iowa Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), and other ESGR officials.  In addition, Governor Culver signed a Proclamation designating the week of Sept. 14-20 as Iowa Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week.

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. 

Washington, DC - All 15 Secretary of DefenseEmpoyer Support Freedom Award recipients went to the Pentagon to meet with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates.

Londonderry, NH – Mr Ted Kehr, Chair of the New Hampshire Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced that Bud and Janice Lefebvre, owners of Lefebvre’s Auto Repair, received a Statement of Support for the National Guard and Reserve on Tuesday, September 1, 2009.  The recognition ceremony took place at their Londonderry location, with the presentation being made by Jim Goss, Executive Director of the NH Committee.

KEARNEY – Sahling Kenworth’s unwavering support of the reserve components of the U.S. military has been recognized in a uniquely personal way.

Loudon, New Hampshire was the site for the second Employer Job Fair held at the Motor Speedway. The event took place on August 27, 2009. The event sponsored in part by WMUR-TV saw 7,000 participants throughout the day taking advantage of the great weather and the ability to gather information from many prospective employers.

Marvin Copes, Employer Outreach Director for the Alabama Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), presented Oliver North an ESGR Statement of Support at the Freedom Concert on Aug. 22 in Atlanta.  North, in turn,  presented Copes with an autographed copy of his book, American Heroes. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflict through mediation.

The Arizona Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today that Randy Watson, Manager at Apollo Group Inc. was honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employee who serves in the United States Army Reserve.

Los Alamitos, California– On Saturday, August 22, 2009 new members of the Southern California ESGR Committee were trained by their seasoned volunteer counterparts at the impressive Veteran’s Service Center onboard the Los Alamitos  Joint Forces Training Base.

Tan Holdings President Jerry Tan, together with 16 other supervisors and managers from Tan Holdings, backed the men and women in the Guard and Reserve on August 15 by signing a statement of support for their re-employment.