Annual banquet to honor employers of reservists

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Sept. 7, 2000 | 9:46 a.m.

The Nevada Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve will honor Nevada employers of Guardsmen and reservists at its annual awards banquet at the Hilton Hotel in Reno Saturday night.

The annual banquet to recognize employers supportive of their citizen soldier, airmen, sailor and Marine employees rotates between Reno and Las Vegas each year.

The Pro Patria Award, which is the highest state award and translates from the Latin "for the nation," will be presented this year to the city of Reno. Only one Pro Patria Award is given each year.

"Reno currently employs 31 citizen soldiers, of which 22 took additional military leave during the past fiscal year," said Ted Marshall, state chairman of ESGR.

Marshall said that because the National Guard and Reserve now represents more than half of America's military capability and the services are increasingly being called upon for peacekeeping missions, many reservists are requesting additional leave from their civilian jobs beyond what is required of the employer by law.

"In many cases these reservists have already sacrificed some or all of their earned vacation time on top of routinely serving one weekend each month," Marshall said. "It's important, then, that we recognize employers that are understanding of reservists' predicament and supportive of their commitment to the military and the defense of the nation."

Other honors to be presented include State Chair Awards to Laurie Valentine of Universal Distribution Service; Dick and Nancy Hodges of Home Care Plus; Jerry Krupp of Mr. T's Muffler, Ken Matson of TCI Cablevision; James Russo of American Water Heater Company, Terry Crawforth of the Nevada Division of Wildlife; and Patricia Lynch, Reno city attorney.

According to Marshall, all of the awards presented at the annual banquet are generated by individual "My Boss is a Patriot" award nominations made by reservists to the committee.

"Everything we do is focused on supporting the individual reservist," Marshall said.

Business and civic leaders interested in the mission of ESGR can call Marshall at (702) 384-7162.

Air Force Ball on Sept. 16

Air Force personnel at Nellis Air Force Base will trade in their battle dress uniforms for coats, ties and evening gowns Sept. 16 at the MGM Grand.

Local reservists, retirees and friends are invited to join them at the Air Force Ball. Dinner is scheduled for 7 p.m. with a social hour beginning at 6 p.m. A special table will also be set at the function to honor POWs and MIAs, and historical uniforms will be on display.

Lt. Gen. William Hobbins, who served as the director of operations for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe during the time NATO employed intensive bombing of Bosnian Serb forces prior to the Dayton peace talks in November 1995, will speak at the event.

Tickets for the ball are still available but must be reserved by Friday. For additional information call the base protocol office at 652-2988.