City to Show Support for Guard & Reserve April 21
The City of Evanston will gather several members of the various Departments who serve in the National Guard and Reserve forces for a special assembly on April 21, 2011 at 11:00 AM. The meeting will be held at the Fire Administration Building located at 909 Lake St. The purpose of the meeting is to publicly affirm the city's support for the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve by signing an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Statement of Support.
Evanston Mayor Elizabeth B. Tisdahl, Chief of Police Richard Eddington and Fire Chief Greg Klaiber will sign the ESGR Statement of Support on behalf of all of the Evanston employees who serve.
“I want to thank the City of Evanston for signing this Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve,” said Dr. Michael Ayers, Illinois ESGR Field Committee Chair. “We truly appreciate this show of support by the City of Evanston for the men and women of the Guard and Reserve.”
On hand for the Statement of Support signing ceremony from Illinois ESGR will be Northeast Regional Chair William Glynn, Public Affairs Director Michael Holub, and Administrative Support Technician Carolyn Murray.
“On behalf of The Adjutant General of Illinois, Maj. Gen. William Enyart, thank you for what you’re doing here in Evanston,” said Dr. Ayers. “Because the role of the National Guard and Reserve has changed from that of a strategic reserve to an operational reserve, the Guard and Reserve are being used more than ever before. The members of the Guard and other Reserve Components could not continue doing what we are asking of them without support from organizations and Municipalities like Evanston.”
Because the National Guard and Reserve comprise roughly half of the nation’s total military force, they play an indispensible role our national defense. Like thousands of other employers and organizations across the country, signing a Statement of Support shows that Evanston recognizes and appreciates the critical role the men and women of the Guard and Reserve play in our security at home and around the world. Last year alone, nearly 60,000 employers publicly expressed their support by signing a Statement of Support.
Approximately 4,500 volunteers, ranging from business executives, senior government representatives, educators and military personnel, serve on local ESGR Field Committees across the nation. The 56 ESGR Field Committees conduct employer support programs, including informational briefings, mediation and recognition of employers whose policies support or encourage participation in the National Guard and Reserve. ESGR is the lead advocate within the Department of Defense for Reserve Component employers.