Monday marked the day that Vermont celebrated its first Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Day.  This special day was designated by the Vermont Legislature as “the General Assembly extends its appreciation to all Vermont employers, past, present, and future, that have employees deployed or to be deployed for the sacrifice that they are making and continue to make in support of their citizen soldiers.”

 “We are pleased that our Legislature has recognized our state’s employers for the huge sacrifices they make when their employees are called away to serve in the Guard or Reserve,” said  Walter “Skip” Poczobut, the  federally appointed State Chair for the Vermont Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.  “It can be costly for them to share an employee with the military.”

 “When we compare Vermont to other states, we are very fortunate that our employers have been wonderfully supportive of their employees who serve,” said Poczobut.   “In fact, they have been far above and beyond the national average.”

In honor of Vermont Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Day, Northern Power Systems, of Barre, signed an Employer Statement of Support, a visible affirming their support to their employees in the Guard and Reserve. USNR Lieutenant (jg) Patrick Towbin, a Northern Power Systems employee who recently returned from military duty in Iraq, was present for the signing. Last week over thirty other Vermont employers were recognized for their extraordinary support of their employees.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) was founded after the creation of the all-volunteer Army.  ESGR is staffed by volunteers in all 50 states and U.S. territories and provides free services to employers of all sizes that have employees in the Guard and Reserve.