HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, MA. May 15, 2010. The 2010 MA ESGR Awards and Recognition Dinner was held at the Minuteman Club at Hanscom Air Force Base on May 15, 2010. Over 100 employers, MAESGR members and guests gathered for this very special annual event. Numerous awards were presented to various employers and MAESGR member volunteers.      

After leading the gathering in the Pledge of Allegiance MAESGR Field Chair Tom Boyle provided opening remarks. He thanked everyone for taking the time to attend this event on a beautiful Saturday night in May. Chairman Boyle mentioned the outstanding support the Guard and Reserves in Massachusetts receive from their employers as evident by the actions taken by those present. He then discussed the 2009 Freedom Award ceremony in Washington, D.C. at which a Massachusetts employer, the Cambridge Fire Department, was presented with one of only fifteen Freedom Awards earned nationwide.  

The gathering then viewed the video showing the presentation of the 2009 Freedom Award to the Cambridge Fire Department. The video included interviews with the Fire Chief, Gerald Reardon, members of the department and the Cambridge City Manager. It was produced by committee member Holly Boyko. Following the video Chief Reardon talked about the prestigious event and his meeting with President Obama.  

The first award presented was the Reverend David P. Mahn Spirit of Volunteerism Award. This prestigious acclaim was presented by Reverend Mahn's widow Joyce and their daughter Laura Joyce Mahn. This recognition is awarded to the volunteer whose accomplishments most closely fit the standards set by Reverend Mahn during his tenure as the MAESGR Committee's State Chair. The recipient of the heralded award for 2010 was Southeastern MA Area Chair and Senior Ombudsman Joachim-Ingo "Ski" Borowski for his selfless and dedicated service to ESGR.  

ESGR member Roger Fortin received the Seven Seals Award. This award which refers to the seven Guard and Reserve branches and is the only ESGR award that bridges both the employer and ESGR volunteer recognition programs. It is presented at the discretion of the Field Chair in recognition of significant individual or organizational achievement, initiative, or support that promotes and supports the ESGR mission.    

Employers who were recognized with the Seven Seals Award were: Cell Phones for Soldiers, G.I. Ginger Betty Foundation, Lobsterman Timothy Field, Massachusetts Port Authority, Massachusetts State Police, the Quincy City Council and the Route 9 Veterans Forum/Veteran's Representative.   

Roger Fortin was also presented the President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) to recognize his significant volunteer accomplishment for ESGR in FY2009. Other MA ESGR members who earned a PVSA in FY2009 and previously received their awards were also recognized. They were: Earl Bonett, "Ski" Borowski, Holly Boyko, Tom Boyle, Tony Ingrisano, Paul Keane, Leo Lazo, Dr. Tom Mulvaney, Bill Napert, John Pelose, Bob Pomeroy, and Wayne Theroux.  

Four categories of employer only awards were then presented during the ceremonies, they are" The Chair's Recognition Award, The Patriot Award, The Above and Beyond Award and The Pro Patria Award. The Chair's Recognition Award is presented when an individual, or organization, takes action that significantly impacts on a Reserve Component member or family member. The Chair's Award was presented to: Children's Hospital, Boston, Guard Support of Massachusetts, Pro Sound Services, Inc. and the West Springfield Home Depot.  

The Patriot Award nominations can only come from National Guard and Reserve members or their spouses. The award is a way for the service member to recognize the importance of his or her supervisor's support. Receiving the Patriot Award were: the Melrose Police Department, the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office and the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital.  

The Above and Beyond Award honors employers of Reserve Component members who go above and beyond the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Recipients of this award present at the dinner were: the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital and the Holliston Fire Department.  

The Pro Patria Award is the highest award that an ESGR Field Chair may bestow on employers within their purview. Employers, who are previous recipients of the Patriot Award, have signed a Statement of Support and have also received the Above and Beyond Award, are eligible for the Pro Patria Award. Each calendar year, the Field Chair may present one Pro Patria Award to an employer in each of three employer categories. The awardees and the applicable category are: The Plymouth County Sheriff's Department (Public Sector), Computer Sciences Corporation (Large Private Employer), and Norel Service Company, Inc. (Small Private Employer). Each has also been forwarded to The Department of Defense as the MA ESGR Committee's Freedom Award Nominee in their individual category.   

MA ESGR Field Chair Tom Boyle provided closing remarks and thanked all attendees for their selfless and unwavering support of the Guard and Reserve. 

 

 

 Left to Right:  Mitch Pentowski, Joyce Mahn, Dave St. Germain, Joachim-Ingo "Ski" Borowski  and Earl Bonett

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Left to Right: Tom Boyle, Brittany Bergquist and Robbie Bergquist of Cell Phones for Soldiers  

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                Cambridge Fire Chief  Gerald Reardon addressing the gathering

If you would join the MA ESGR Committee and volunteer your time, call the MA Committee for ESGR at 508-233-7249 or go to www.esgr.mil