Fort Story Joint Expeditionary Base, Norfolk, Va. – Vice Admiral Dirk J. Debbink, Chief Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force joined hands today with the Virginia Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, to recognize and honor five Virginia employers with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employee(s) who serve in the Navy Reserve.  Receiving the Patriot Awards were Ms. Neva Lynde, Booz Allen Hamilton of Norfolk; Ms. Victoria Whalen, Oceaneering International, Inc. Chesapeake; Dan Fox and Art Michel, SAIC, Suffolk; and Mr. Charles Schue III, UrsaNav, Inc. also in Chesapeake.
According to Tom Stephen ESGR Program Support Specialist, “The Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve.  These employers were all nominated for being highly supportive of their Navy Reserve Service by their respective Reserve Component employee. VADM Debbink stated “Supportive civilian employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s National Guard and Reserve units.”
Victoria Whalen, Quality Control Manager for Oceaneering International and Charles Schue III President of UrsaNav, Inc. also signed ESGR Statements of Support at the ceremony. Mr. Schue said “We had just sent off a “Care Package” to Tony Gracia when I was informed about the Patriot Award”. PO Anthony Gracia is the Navy Reservist, who nominated Charles Schue for the award.
The ceremony was held at the Navy Operations Support Center (NOSC), located on the Joint Expeditionary Base. An audience of over 120 Navy Reservists looked on as VADM Debbink presented each employer with their Patriot Award. CAPT Fred Berck, USNR (Ret.), Chairman of Virginia’s Tidewater Area Committee and CDR Doyle Quisenberry, USNR, (Ret.) Employer Outreach Coordinator with the same committee presented each employer with a Patriot lapel pin and thanked them for their outstanding support of the Guard and Reserve.
As the 1.3 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions with America’s borders and beyond, ESGR will continue to be the resource for the employers of citizen warriors. ESGR recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of the law, and resolves conflict through mediation.  More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil, or by calling Tom Stephen, VaESGR Program Support Specialist, 804-236-7493.