WESTPORT POINT, MA. December 18, 2009. Today was a bitterly cold 15 degree day. Three MAESGR Members traveled to the fishing lobster dock on the "Point". The purpose of this fridged visit to this picturesque fishing village was to present The Seven Seals Award to Mr. Timothy Field of Westport for his unbelievable donation of his 38 foot lobster boat "Revolution" to Christopher Pinto. Chris lives in Plymouth, MA and is a member of Army National Guard. He is scheduled for deployment with the guard in the future. 

A Connecticut-based nonprofit organization called Work Vessels for Veterans, started by another commercial fisherman, John Niekrash of Noank, CT started a wonderful trend. When Mr. Niekrash needed a larger boat in 2008, rather than advertise his old boat for sale, he decided to donate it to a veteran. Mr. Niekrash gave his boat away to a Marine Corps Veteran who now fishes for lobsters on Narragansett Bay. Mr. Field saw an article about the Work Vessels for Vets Program in a commercial fisheries newspaper and decided to contact them to offer his old boat. 

The Work Vessels for Vets Program is expanding to include donations of vehicles and laptop computers used to assist more veterans re-entering civilian life after serving overseas. A MAESGR Certificate of Achievement was presented to Work Vessels for Vets during the short ceremony. Ms. Kathleen Burns traveled from CT to accept the award on behalf of the organization. Others in attendance were Harbormaster Richie Earle, Town of Westport Veterans' Agent, Ronald Costa as well as numerous members of the lobster/fishing community. 

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 South Eastern Area Chair and Senior Ombudsman Joachim-Ingo "Ski" Borowski, Awards Director Roger Fortin and Program Support Specialist David St. Germain. 

 

 

  Left to Right: Roger Fortin, Timothy Field and "Ski" Borowski  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

__

Left to Right:  Ron Costa, Roger Fortin, Kathleen Burns, Timothy Field, "Ski" Borowski and Richie Earle

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Left to Right:  Dave St. Germain and Kathleen Burns

If you would like nominate your Employer for an award, call the MA Committee for ESGR at 508-233-7249 or go to www.esgr.mil.

 I