Dear Abby’s best advice to Montana employers would be to hire Montana Guard and Reserve members.  Jeanne Phillips, better known as legendary advice columnist “Dear Abby” signed a Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (MT ESGR) Statement of Support while visiting the Montana Air National Guard 120th Fighter Wing in Great Falls, Montana.  ESGR is a U.S. Department of Defense Agency that seeks to promote a culture in which all American Employers support and value the military service of their employees.

Jeanne Phillips spent the afternoon visiting with airmen and family members of the Montana Air National Guard.  During that time, she signed a Statement of Support for Montana ESGR which makes three commitments:
• Employers will recognize honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
• Employers will provide their leadership with the resources necessary to effectively manage Guard and Reserve employees.
• Employers will continually recognize and support service members and their families in peace, crisis and war.

Phillips was “thrilled” to sign the Statement of Support.  She stated she is working to become better educated about the services available to families while their loved ones are away on a deployment and learning what is available for them upon their return.

Dear Abby is known for her column that appears in more than 1,400 newspapers and is read daily by more than 110 million people worldwide.  The advice column was started in 1956 by Phillips' mother, Pauline, under the pen name Abigail Van Buren, and shortened to simply "Dear Abby."  Jeanne, who now owns the legal rights to the pen name, has carried on the column since her mother's retirement.

During her visit to the 120th Fighter Wing, she had the opportunity to “gear up” in a flight suit.  Granted the temporary title of “Major Dear Abby” she was thrilled to sit in an F-15 pilot seat.  Phillips was in town as the inaugural speaker for the Great Falls Ad Club Celebrity Celebration series.
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Attached photo by SMSgt Eric Peterson

Photo cutline: “Major Dear Abby,” Jeanne Phillips gives a wave to fans from the cockpit of an F-15 at the Montana Air National Guard 120th Fighter Wing as Lt Col Jeffrey “Chef” Carlton looks on.  Phillips signed a Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Statement of Support confirming she will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families in peace, in crisis and in war.  Photo courtesy of SMSgt Eric Peterson.