MCC leaders honored ar Air National Guard event

To honor the employers of guard and reserve members, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Employer Appreciation Day was held on April 30 at Rosecrans Air National Guard base in St. Joseph, Mo. Andy Forester, evening/ weekend coordinator for MCC-Penn Valley, has served in the Missouri Air National Guard since 2007.

In attendance were: Mark James, MCC chancellor designee; Lisa Minis, Penn Valley dean of students and Muna Dempsey. On Saturday and Sunday, the air show was attended by more than 60,000 people, including visits from U.S. Representative Sam Graves, Governor Jay Nixon and Adjutant General Steve Danner.

The ESGR celebration included a Commander’s Welcome, BBQ lunch and air show headlined by the Blue Angels. During the commander’s welcome, Colonel Mike McEnulty emphasized how critical Reservists and National Guard members are, as they make up 50 percent of the military and are trained to assist in both international combat missions and natural disasters at home and abroad.

After lunch, employers who have signed a statement of support were honored. MCC’s statement of support, along with other companies who offer outstanding support to their employees can be viewed under “Programs” at www.ESGR.org .

The statement of support affirms that as an organization, “We fully recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA); Our managers and supervisors will have the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve; and we will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families in peace, in crises and in war.

“I’m so proud and privileged to be able to wear the Air Force uniform,” said Forester. “When I graduated from seminary in 2007, I chose to join the Air National Guard as a chaplain because I wanted to address the emotional and spiritual needs of our troops and veterans at a critical juncture in history. I’m very thankful for an employer, co-workers and supervisors who are supportive of our troops and my endeavors.”