Deputy Secretary of State, Patty Morneault, honored with an Above and Beyond Award by the Maine Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

AUGUSTA, Maine - On March 31, 2014, the Maine Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, honored Deputy Secretary of State, Patty Morneault, with an Above and Beyond Award in recognition of extraordinary support to, Daniel Henry, Business Manager for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and a Lieutenant Maine Army National Guardsman.

According to John Henry Cashwell, Maine ESGR State Chair, "The ESGR Above and Beyond Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize American employers providing extraordinary patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation's call to serve. Supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation's Guard and Reserve units."

Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicle joins with thousands of American employers who have reviewed and amended their current human resources policies to ensure compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. Many employers provide above and beyond support with pay differential to offset the loss of wages, and extension of health care benefits which complement coverage provided by the military when their employees are mobilized.

Daniel Henry nominated Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles for the 2014 DOD Freedom Award which has been submitted to the national review committee, Public Sector. Dan states that, "his supervisor made every necessary arrangement for me to prepare successfully for the upcoming deployment as well as continually checking with me to ensure things were going smoothly. They were put in the position to take on extra work to maintain office flow which I very much appreciated. The outstanding support reflects such a professional spirit and truly encourages me for the next potential deployment in the upcoming year."

ESGR, a Department of Defense office, seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States. For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, please call 1-800-336-4590 or visit http://www.esgr.mil/ .