ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an office of the Department of Defense, announced that an Allentown Parking Authority supervisor recently received Patriot Awards in recognition of extraordinary support of employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.
Pennsylvania ESGR is particularly proud to present employers with a Patriot Award for their strong support of their employees serving in our nation’s Reserve forces.
Allentown Parking Authority’s Assistant Manager Coral Cohen was nominated for the Patriot Award by Pfc. Dylan Brandon who is a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s 1069th Military Police Battalion stationed in Allentown.
In nominating Cohen, Pfc. Brandon stated: “My supervisors and management always approve my time off as soon as I tell them of my upcoming military duty requirements. They always let me have additional time off when I need time after drills to attend to personal things before returning to work. They always tell me that they and Human Resources personnel think highly of me, not only because I am a great employee, but that I'm also in the military.”
Joe Gentile, Pennsylvania ESGR East–Central Area Chair presented the Patriot Awards to Cohen. Gentile commented: “It’s critical and an honor to recognize and pay tribute to those employers that hire and support our Guard and Reserve forces. It would be difficult for those in the uniformed services to perform their mission without employer support.” Gentile added: “Today’s members of the Guard and Reserves are highly trained and skilled; they bring integrity, a global perspective and, proven leadership to the civilian workforce.”
Additional members of the Allentown Parking Authority were present for the award presentation: Director John Morgan, Deputy Director John Haney, and Enforcement Manager Oswald Tosado. In addition to presenting a Patriot Award, Gentile obtained a Statement of Support from Director Morgan. The Statement of Support confirms that the company joins other employers in pledging: • We fully recognize, honor, and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA). • We will provide our managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. • We appreciate the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists and Veterans. • We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families, in peace, in crises and in war. “Today, supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units,” said Gentile. “I am asking all East–Central Pennsylvania employers to take a look at their current human resources policies to incorporate policies supportive of Guard and Reserve employees.” Many Pennsylvania employers provide support above and beyond their legal requirements by law and offer pay-differential to offset the loss of wages, and extension of health care benefits, which complement coverage provided by the military, when their employees mobilize.” Allentown Parking Authority joins a cadre of Fortune 500 companies, state and federal, agencies and thousands of America’s employers in demonstrating support for our armed forces. Gentile added: “By signing the Statement of Support, Allentown Parking Authority is sending a clear message to its employees that while they are serving their country, they do not have to worry about their civilian jobs.” 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. ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members, and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within DoD. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce. For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, please call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil/PA Photo #1 (L–R): Pfc. Brandon, Director Morgan, ESGR Area Chair Gentile, Patriot Award recipient Cohen, Deputy Director Haney, and Enforcement Officer Tosado. Photo courtesy of Kevin McNulty, Community Relations Specialist