NEW LONDON, CT. October 2, 2009. The Massachusetts Committee for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, (MAESGR) kicked off this fiscal year treating an excited group of 27 employers as temporary submariners today as they toured the facilities of the U. S. Navy Submarine Base at New London, CT. Traveling by charter bus from Swansea, MA they arrived at the base around 9:30 AM and after a short tour of the Navy Submarine Museum, they were briefed by the Base Public Information officer and the Commanding Officer of the Naval Reserve activity in New London. Next were briefings and demonstrations by the Base Fire Department and a demonstration of military working dogs. Following a terrific lunch with the troops at the galley, the employers were taken on a windshield tour of the base ending up at the USS New Hampshire, a nuclear sub based at New London that is not quite a year in commission. After an extensive tour of the submarine, it was time to depart for home.  

During the course of the day, ESGR presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Ms. Lena Blanch of the Base Public Affairs Office who did a great job of setting up the visit and to Mr. Ben DeCastro of Cardi's Furniture of Swansea, MA who provided a meeting point and parking location for the thirty plus vehicles of the employers and ESGR members. The owners of Cardi Furniture, Nick, Ron and Pete Cardi are former recipients of the Secretary of Defense Freedom Award and are great supporters of their Guard and Reservist employees and of ESGR.  They won the award in 2006. 

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the USERRA law of 1994 and resolving conflicts through mediation. The MA Committee has more than 35 volunteers dedicated to helping every "Citizen Soldier". On hand representing MAESGR were John Pelose, "Ski" Borowski, Wayne Theroux, Roger Fortin, Bill Hebert and Dave St. Germain.  

 

  A Group photo of employers and ESGR members at the New London Submarine Base
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 Ben DeCastro of Cardi's Furniture receiving the Seven Seals Award from MAESGR's "Ski" Borowski

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Lena Blanch of the Base Public Affairs Office receiving a Certifcate of Appreciation from MAESGR's John Pelose

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If you would Sign a Statement of Support or join the MA ESGR Committee and volunteer your time, please call us at 508-233-7249 or go to www.esgr.mil.