LINCOLN — Sixteen Nebraska companies or agencies were recognized and thanked for their patriotism and understanding Saturday evening, June 12, in Lincoln.

MURFREESBORO, TN. – Soldiers from the 1-230th Tennessee Army National Guard attended a day of reintegration briefings at the New Vision Baptist Church.  More than 450 soldiers and family members assembled for an exchange of information and were able to ask questions of representatives from 10 different service organizations. Members of the church provided the facilities and all technical support at no cost to the soldiers, and were very gracious hosts.
 

Tennessee and Mississippi employers toured training facilities at Camp Shelby and Gulfport, MS to see first-hand how their employees who are members of the guard and reserve train to go to war.
 

Cowbells Sports Grill was nominated by Ryan Handran for the prestigious Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.  The Freedom Award recognizes employers of Guard and Reserve personnel who provide exceptional support to our citizen soldiers.  It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the Department of Defense.

SEWARD — Two of National Guard Sgt. First Class Curtis Luethke’s civilian bosses were presented ESGR Patriot Awards on Thursday, June 10 in Seward.

American Eurocopter was nominated by Khristen Moore for the prestigious Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.  The Freedom Award recognizes employers of Guard and Reserve personnel who provide exceptional support to our citizen soldiers.  It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the Department of Defense.

LINCOLN — Col. Dan Danaher of the Nebraska Army National Guard nominated his civilian employers at the Nebraska Department of Corrections for the ESGR Patriot Award.

WEST POINT — Tom Stratman of West Point has been presented the ESGR Patriot Award. Stratman, vice president of Seals and Services on West Grove Street in West Point, was nominated by one of his employees, Brent Schueth, who also serves as a PFC in the National Guard.

Kirkland, WA – The Washington Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today Colleen Hewes, Director, Nursing Programs at Lake Washington Technical College was honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

OMAHA — Stacy Scholtz, Mutual of Omaha executive vice president for corporate services, signed an ESGR Statement of Support on June 1 in Omaha.

RICHMOND, Ky. — Richmond resident Judy A. Greene-Baker has been appointed the Area 6 Chairman for the Kentucky Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), according to ESGR State Chair Robert Silverthorn.

SALEM, Ore. - Radio personality Lars Larson was thanked live on his own radio show for his support of the Oregon ESGR Committee on May 28. Oregon ESGR public affairs director Mike Allegre presented the nationally known radio host with the Seven Seals Award live on his daily statewide talk show, which was broadcasting from the “Golfing with the Guard” fund raising event in Beaverton.

HASTINGS — The Hastings Police Department, other agencies of municipal government and the local Chamber of Commerce publicly demonstrated their support for National Guard and Reserve troops recently by signing a Nebraska Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Statement of Support.

NEW ORLEANS --Earlier this week Entergy Corporation was presented with the Pro Patria award from the Louisiana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

The Tennessee and Mississippi ESGR Committees recently conducted a joint Bosslift.  Approximately 45 employers participated in a three day Bosslift to Gulfport and Camp Shelby, Mississippi on 5-7 May 2010. 
 

A Patriot Award was presented during Monday's Memorial Day observance at Bay Point Park to Wayne Tyson (standing, center), security project manager for Wackenhut Corp. and Xcel Energy at the Prairie Island nuclear plant.

In advance of the holiday that recognizes the men and women who gave their lives defending America, the Metropolitan King County Council today celebrated Memorial Day with a proclamation pledging its support for county employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. The proclamation was sponsored by Council Chair Bob Ferguson, who sponsored the 2005 King County Veterans and Human Services Levy, and Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, the only veteran on the Council.

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich was presented the “My Boss is a Patriot Award” along with other personal gifts brought back from Iraq recently.

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 - Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates has appointed Major General (Ret.) Ronald G. Young as Executive Director of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

LYNCHBURG, Va. - On Tuesday, May 25th, the Honorable Joan F. Foster, Mayor of the City of Lynchburg, Virginia, signed and ESGR Statement of Support.

Approximately 50 employers gathered at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Air National Guard Base to experience a bit of what their military employees do when they are in uniform.

On 20-21 May the MDESGR hosted 35 employers, ESGR members and Marine Reservists on a "Boss Lift" to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC.

FORT HOOD, TX – Employers of South Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers had the only ticket in town to participate in and observe where their citizen-Soldier employees are training before deploying  for one year to support operations in Afghanistan.
 

MOBILE, Ala. - The Alabama Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee was invited to attend and participate in the Alabama League of Municipalities Convention here  May 16 and 17. 

Kraft Foods’ Flexibility Enabled Employee to Support the Global War on Terror

Kendallville, Indiana.—May 20, 2010—Kraft Foods received the "Above and Beyond Award" from the Indiana Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, in recognition of its extraordinary support of its employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. Mike Hughes, Manager of the Kraft Foods Kendallville Plant, accepted the award on Thursday, May 13, 2010.

May 15, Armed Forces Day, hundreds of guests and visitors joined with a  number of notable dignitaries at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans to honor the men and women who have served and are serving in the United States’ armed forces—army, navy air force, coast guard.  
 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White, signed an ESGR Statement of Support for the National Guard and Reserve May 12 joining thousands of employers across Illinois and the country that publicly acknowledge and support the continuing contributions of Guardsmen and Reservists to the defense of our nation.

TUCSON -  Bruce Hamilton, Program Manager ESGR, presents Randy Lewis, Vietnam Veteran and Operations Manager for FlightSafety International, Tucson, AZ with the ESGR Patriot Award. 
 

The Oklahoma Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Field Office hosted a Patriot Awards luncheon for 20 Oklahoma employers. 

Delaware ESGR Volunteer Melissa Bruhl honored Ms. Lynn Dolphin of Valassis Communications, Inc., with a Patriot Award, in recognition of her extraordinary support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.