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PRESENTATION OF THE EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE (ESGR) PRO PATRIA AWARD.
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INFORMATION: .The State Chairman for the Oklahoma State Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) will be presenting the ESGR Pro Patria Award to the Mayor of the City of Norman. ESGR is the lead U.S. Defense Department program promoting cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and their National Guard and Reserve employees. Established in 1972, ESGR operates within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.
The ESGR is composed of volunteers across the state who actively participate in improving relationships between our Oklahoma National Guardsmen, members assigned to the Reserve Military components (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard), and the civilian companies or organizations they work for. Last year David Grizzle, Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Norman and an Army Reserve Officer nominated the City of Norman for the prestigious Secretary of Defense Freedom Award. This is the highest award that the Department of Defense can award to a civilian entity or employer. The Oklahoma State Committee nominated the City of Norman for the Public Sector of the Freedom Award. The City of Norman became a semi-finalist for this award, but did not make the finalist round. Only 15 organizations annually win the Freedom Award, as the competition is very stiff. To honor the City of Norman’s semi-finalist ranking, the ESGR state committee nominated Norman for the ESGR Pro Patria Award.