ST. LOUIS, Mo. – What better way to celebrate Veteran’s Day than to win an award for your company’s support of veterans?

Such was the case Nov. 10 at the Missouri Athletic Club as three St. Louis businesses were honored by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve for their support of the military and military families. Prudential Financial, Express Scripts and Edward Jones were each recognized during the annual Veteran’s Day salute, sponsored by the MAC and the St. Louis Rotary Club.

Prudential was given a Patriot Award for the company’s program that assists returning veterans with resumes and interview skills. The company also employs more than 15 members of the National Guard and Reserves in Missouri and Illinois.

“We are deeply honored,” said Elaine Syrewicz, a Prudential operation and control specialist who is the wife of a deployed National Guardsman and a volunteer for the Guard’s Family Readiness Group. “I am very passionate about the military and we have several service members working for us. I think employers need to recognize that hiring a veteran is a no-brainer. They have the discipline, the training and the commitment to succeed.” 

In addition to the Patriot Award, Syrewicz was also presented with a certificate of appreciation for her work with veterans on behalf of Prudential.

Express Scripts was presented with the Seven Seals Award for its support of various initiatives that provide employment and family support assistance to members of the National Guard and Reserves.

“We had an employee, a member of the National Guard who was deployed in 2009 and we had to make sure his position was filled and we support other organizations that are connected to the military,” explained Ann Stroud, director of proposals for Express Scripts TRICARE Pharmacy Division. “We also advertise open positions to veterans so the Seven Seals Award is a real honor for us.”

Edward Jones was given an Above and Beyond Award for going beyond legal requirements in granting leave for employee members of the National Guard and Reserves to fulfill their military training obligations.

“Our focus is on people who could become successful financial advisors and that’s why we reach out to the military,” said Phil Ponciroli, the company’s military relationship manager. “The competency that is instilled within military personnel makes them excellent job candidates. So this award feels wonderful and it gives Edward Jones a personal connection to the military.”    

Recognizing corporate support for the military and military families is an honor, according to Fred Pletz, Missouri chair for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. 

“It’s easy for a small business to take care of their own, but when a large corporation is a able to focus on a single individual among thousands, you know their heart is in the right place and that they’ve embraced the concept of taking care of military families,” Pletz said. “These three corporations have done a good job of that.”

Appropriately, the Missouri National Guard provided a color guard for the Veteran’s Day event while members of the Guard’s Funeral Honors Team performed a POW-MIA ceremony.

Air Force Gen. William M. Frazier III, commander of the U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, was the featured speaker.  

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please visit www.moguard.com and our social media sites: www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard; www.twitter.com/Missouri_NG; www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard; www.myspace.com/missouri_ng; www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard; www.moguard.com/blog.

For more information about this release, please contact UPAR Bill Phelan at 314-416-6639 or cell, 314-556-5428 or e-mail bill.phelan@us.army.mil .
 
Elaine Syrewicz and George Regan of Prudential Financial, Phil Ponciroli of Edward Jones, and Ann Stroud of Express Scripts, pose with retired Brig. Gen. Tracy E. Beckette, a member of the Missouri Athletic Club Veteran’s Day Committee and State Chairman of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves. Prudential, Edward Jones and Express Scripts were presented with ESGR awards Nov. 10 for their support of the National Guard and military Reserves during a Veteran’s Day ceremony at the MAC in downtown St. Louis. (ESGR photo)

By Bill Phelan
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL