LINCOLN, NE — An employee of Kawasaki who lives a double life serving his country in the National Guard has nominated his civilian supervisor for the Patriot Award, presented by the Nebraska Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Sgt. Joshua Wilken called ESGR’s attention to Rick Hanson, his boss at Kawasaki in Lincoln (both of whom are pictured above).

“My supervisor has been very understanding about me being gone a lot lately due to deployment training,” Wilken wrote in nominating Hanson. “Rick has been very supportive of me being in the military” and “never looks down on me” or becomes “upset about me being gone for weeks at a time.”

ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation and if necessary mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve personnel. Please contact Executive Director William Nelson at 402-309-7105 or email william.nelson1@us.army.mil for more information on ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities.