All Points Transport receives ESGR award

All Points Transport receives ESGR award

Company recognized for support of National Guard and Reserve

news@theeveningtimes.com

A local trucking company received recognition from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The staff at All Points Transportation based in the Mid-Continent Building in West Memphis were presented Patriot Awards by the local ESGR committee.

ASU Journalism Dean, Dr. Gil Fowler traveled from Jonesboro joining Elvin Tate and Councilman James Pulliaum presenting the plaques on behalf of the northeast Arkansas ESGR committee.

Fowler cited a two century old tradition of the citizen soldier seen today in those serving in the National Guard and Reserves.

“It’s the job of the ESGR to work with businesses and the citizen soldier to insure that we have a good transition and that citizen solider can do his job not only as a soldier but also as an employee,” said Fowler. For more than 40 years the ESGR has worked with the Secretary of Defense to help recognize businesses and employers for the job they do by encouraging employment for the citizen soldier, helping with problems with soldiers in your business as part of our community.”

The need has rarely been greater according to Fowler.

“Since 9-11 more than one million soldiers have left the work place and deployed to serve the country,” said Fowler. “We still have 40,000 citizen soldiers doing their job around the world. This is only possible because business such as All Points allow that to happen.

Captain Darryl Lewis is a reservist employed by the transportation company. He nominated four individual staff where he works and appreciated how each staff member at All Points worked with him whenever weekend duty was scheduled. The Patriot awards go to individual staff members nominated by a serviceman for the efforts to support the citizen soldier including flexible schedules, time off before deployment, and caring for families.

“While he has worked at other businesses, he has never had the kind o support you each provide for allowing him to drive to Alabama to his drill site and making sure his job responsibilities are covered,” said Fowler.

After Captain Lewis’ nomination was considered by the ESGR committee, four individual staff members at All Points Transportation received awards Tuesday morning during national ESGR week. Nancy Bagley, Jay Brown, Daniel McKinnon and Ken Woody heard the nomination and the requirements for the Patriot Award and received a plaque, a pen, and a lapel pin to commemorate the recognition.

Fowler had more good news. As recipients of the Patriot Award each of the recipients head for further consideration for State and National level awards.

By John Rech