HOLYOKE, MA. July 14, 2010. Mr. Dan
Pendar, Director at the Phoenix House in Holyoke, Massachusetts was
presented the Patriot Award for his outstanding support of the step-mother
of a wounded U. S. Marine. Suzann Bouchard, an employee at the
Holyoke Phoenix House, submitted a Patriot Award nomination form for
Mr. Pendar after observing a Patriot Award presentation to a
supervisor at Westover Air Reserve Base where she performs volunteer
services with the USO.
In the nomination of her boss, Ms. Bouchard
wrote: "I was working for only four months when we received
word that my stepson was injured in Afghanistan. I left for Germany
without even calling my director )Dan Pendar). I emailed him a few
days later explaining what happened and he wrote back telling me not
to worry about anything. He has always been there for me." Her
stepson is Sergeant Joshua Bouchard of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Phoenix House operates Community Residences
throughout the country for people who are struggling with substance
abuse and diagnosed mental illness. Phoenix Houses of New England - originally
called Marathon House - was founded in 1967 by a coalition of social
service professionals, clergy, business, and political leaders in
Providence, Rhode Island. Today, some 1000 adults and teenagers
receive treatment each day through 45 programs in all six New
England States.
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 Field Office has more than 40 volunteers dedicated to helping
every "Citizen Soldier". On hand representing MAESGR were
Ombudsman Director and Western MA Area Chair Earl Bonett and Staff
Member Bill Hebert.
Left to Right:
Dan Pendar, Suzann Bouchard and Earl Bonett
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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.
