RALEIGH, N.C.— Gov. Beverly Eaves Perdue signed a Statement of Support for our uniformed military Feb. 16, during a signing ceremony at the Old House Chamber, North Carolina State Capital.

Alongside Gov. Perdue showing their support were Dennis M. McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs; Maj. Gen. William E. Ingram, Jr., Adjutant General of North Carolina; and Mr. Bud Baker, Chairman, N.C. Employer Support of Guard and Reserve.

These North Carolina Citizen-Soldiers leave home to deploy around the world to serve in battle and provide humanitarian aid for their fellow citizens as well as citizens of other countries. The statement is a clear way of recognizing and supporting North Carolina’s service members and their families.

 “Today North Carolina is very proud to sign this official Statement of Support for our Guard. It’s what we must do; it’s what we should do. I call on every employer in this great state to do the same,” said Gov. Perdue
The Statement of Support is backed by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and is designed to create awareness and understanding of North Carolina’s Guard and Reserve service and enlist support of employers in development of human resource policies and practices that support and encourage employee participation in Guard and Reserve programs.

The statement also disseminates information to improve knowledge of and voluntary compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act among Reserve component leaders, members, and their employers. The USERRA also strives to sustain willingness of employers to support their employees called to military service for the Global War on Terrorism over potentially longer periods of time and greater frequency.

Mr. Bud Baker, Chairman of the North Carolina ESGR, explained why they fight for the rights of Guard and Reserve Soldiers, “I would like to say thank you to the various heads of the service units that are here today. You do us a great service. We are always in your debt, and we will never be able to repay you.”