Vermont Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has announced its 2016 award recipients for service and support to Vermont’s Guard and Reserve members. At their annual banquet held recently in Montpelier, VT ESGR recognized over 30 employers who provided outstanding support over the past year. Guest speaker for the event was Lieutenant General (Retired) Mike Dubie, previous Adjutant General for Vermont, and now President, Revision Military Technologies.
Top award recipients receiving the “Pro Patria” award were Northfield Savings Bank, small business private sector category; Radiology Services at the UVM Medical Center, large business private sector category; and Windsor Police Department, public sector category. This is the highest award that a state ESGR office can present.
Other awards presented included the “Above and Beyond” award, for support that well exceeds basic requirements under Federal law. Recipients included Montpelier Fire Department (Montpelier); Northfield Savings Bank (Northfield and Berlin); Stockton Security Services (Rutland); Radiology Services, UVM Medical Center (Burlington); Vermont Department of Corrections (Springfield); and Windsor Police Department (Windsor.)
VT ESGR also recognized five Vermont employers who were nominated for the prestigious Secretary of Defense Freedom Award. This is the highest award presented nationwide to employers who provide exceptional support to their citizen soldiers, airmen, sailors, Marines, and Coast Guard members. First round nominees included Vermont Donut Enterprise (Colchester); UPS (Williston); Vermont Technical College (Randolph Center); and Windsor Police Department (Windsor.) Windsor PD made the second national cut from over 2,400 nominees down to one of 139. Vermont has won this award twice since its inception.
The “Seven Seals” award was presented to agencies and individuals who have supported the ESGR mission of enhancing relationships among members of the Guard and Reserve, their families, and their civilian employers. Recipients were Radio 100.9 (Barre); Radio 107.9 (Barre); the Vermont Office of the US Small Business Administration (Montpelier); the State Director, US Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment & Training Services (Montpelier); Vermont Department of Corrections (Montpelier); Vermont Department of Labor, Workforce Development Division (Montpelier); and Vermont Department of Veterans Affairs (Montpelier.) Mr. Shawn Bryan, of Berlin, VT ESGR State Chairman, was also presented the award as he finishes 6 years of service and leadership with the VT ESGR committee.
The following recipients of the ESGR Patriot Award were also recognized. In many cases, the Patriot Award was the foundation for the higher level awards. Recipients included:
Bennington Police Department – Paul Doucette, David Dutcher, Joshua Stemp, and Roscoe Harrington - Bennington
Bill Lohsen Plumbing & Heating – William Lohsen – Wallingford
Essex County Sheriff’s Department – Trevor Colby – Guildhall
McMahon Chevy Buick – Keith Allen, and Dan Keene - Morrisville
Northern Counties Medical Health Center – Shawn Tester – St. Johnsbury
Prime Communications – Noah Fink - Berlin
Radio 100.9 – JD Green – Barre
Radio 107.1 – TJ Michaels – Barre
Stockton Security Services – Mark Stockton – Rutland
The Carriage Shed – Robert Therrien – White River Junction
Vermont Department of Corrections – Casey Leahy, Jeremy Cornwall, Kevin Jenkins, Michael Groner, and Stephen Riendeau – Springfield
Our heartfelt thanks goes out to all of these employers who “serve” in their own right by supporting our Vermont Guard and Reserve members and their spouses.
Photo 1: Northfield Savings Bank
Photo 2: Radiology Services, UVM Medical Center and Vermont Department of Corrections
Photo 3: Windsor Police Department