(GOLDEN VALLEY, MN) The Minnesota State Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve held its annual Awards Banquet at the Golden Valley Country Club on May 12. More 600 guests attended the event, and 28 employers were honored for their outstanding support of their employees who serve in the military. 

Two employers were honored with the “Pro Patria” Award, the highest that can be given at the state level. Target Corporation of Minneapolis was nominated by MCPO Michael Korman, USNR, for the Large Employer category. Central Boiler of Greenbush, Minnesota was nominated by CPL Monty Johnson for the small employer category. 

Employers who received the “Above and Beyond” Award were: 

• AT&T
• The Loyalton Group
• City of Rochester
• Minnesota Secretary of State
• Northwest Airlines
• St. Cloud Hospital
• Eden Prairie Schools
• Donaldson Company
• Edina Police Department
• Wilson Manufacturing
• Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office
• Mosaic Company
• Mason Brothers
• Whelan Security
• Eden Prairie Police Department
• Union Pacific Railroad
• Carver County Sheriff’s Office
• Allianz Life Insurance
• Hennepin County Health and Human
• Services Department
• Diversified Graphics, Inc.
• St. Mary’s Clinic, Duluth
• Thomson Reuters
• Digital DataVoice
• Minneapolis Police Department
• United Health Care
• Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs

Included on the guest list were ESGR National Executive Director Dr. L. Gordon Sumner, ESGR National Chairman Mr. James Rebholz, Minnesota Adjutant General MG Larry Shellito, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

Also honored at the event was Minnesota ESGR volunteer Ron Gornick. Gornick served as a Private and Sergeant in the US Army during the Korean War, and received two Purple Hearts. Through a clerical error, he did not receive his Combat Infantry Badge. MG Shellito presented the badge, 57 years later, at the business meeting preceding the banquet. At the banquet, Governor Pawlenty surprised Gornick by giving him a brevet promotion to 2nd Lieutenant. Gornick, an ESGR volunteer since 1996, was interviewed about his experience on Fox 9 News. Read about his experience and see the interview at http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=6520326.

The banquet also marked the seventh and last year of Minnesota ESGR State Chair BG (ret) Denny Schulstad. Schulstad, a former member of the Air Force Reserve, will step down this year to be replaced by ESGR volunteer Paul Monteen, a resident of Coon Rapids, MN. For more information on ESGR, please contact Beth Sherman at 703-380-9717.