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.

Chris Christopherson of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program said Tyson was nominated by Sgt. Christopher Nelson of Red Wing, who is serving in Iraq with the 367th Engineer Battalion, for going "a step above and beyond" as an employer to support Nelson and his wife, Crystal (left), as he prepared to be deployed. That support enabled Nelson to complete his training and also be with his wife when she gave birth. - R-E photo by Ruth Nerhaugen
 
At the Memorial Day Service, Minnesota ESGR member David “Chris” Christopherson (pictured at podium) presented the award and spoke in front of over 700 Red Wing residents.  Christopherson is one of the newest members of Minnesota ESGR, and has been extremely active in the presentation of Patriot Awards and Employer Outreach.