Governor, Attorney General receive ESGR awards

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bob Oldham
  • 189th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. --  Arkansas' Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve presented patriotic awards to Gov. Mike Beebe, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and four others at a ceremony in the governor's conference room in the state capital June 3.

Also receiving awards were Timothy Gauger of the governor's office, and Dennis Hansen, Justin Allen and Lori Freno, all from the attorney general's office.

Each recipient received ESGR's My Boss is a Patriot award for their support of members of the Guard and Reserve. Air National Guard Capt. Jeremy Lasiter, the 189th Airlift Wing staff judge advocate, and a lawyer on Mr. McDaniel's staff nominated the recipients.

"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," said Richard Green, an ESGR Arkansas program support specialist.

The Patriot award is a special award because it comes from the employee, said retired Maj. Gen. Don C. Morrow, state ESGR chairman.

"I've had the opportunity to work with both of them, and I know that both of them totally support our military," the retired adjutant general said of the governor and attorney general at the press conference.

He singled out their support of Guardsmen and Reservists because members of the reserve component play such a vital role in the defense of the nation these days, not only militarily but many times in their civilian jobs as policemen, firemen or in the defense industry.

"In today's world, it's much different than it used to be," the governor said. "The Guard and Reserve are no longer down on the lower rung like they used to be 25 or 30 years ago because the mission has totally changed.

Reserve Component members around the state have been tasked heavily since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"Now more than ever, it's essential that employers support their employees who are members of the Guard and Reserve," the governor said. "It's not only important for those families, it's not only important for those employees, it's important for the security of our nation. These people don't enjoy being separated from six months to a year from their family. They don't enjoy that separation. They certainly don't enjoy being in hostile combat zones, but they do it because they are dedicated Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and in some cases Coast Guardsmen. The least we can do is show the kind of support from the various employers across the state that allows them to be secure in the fact that when they're through serving their country when that active duty assignment has been completed."

Additionally, the governor and attorney general signed ESGR Statements of Support, confirming their support for the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act, ensuring managers and supervisors will have the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve, and that they will continually recognize and support the country's service members and their families in peace, in crises and in war.