Pastor receives Patriot's Award from the New York National Guard

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Pastor Bill Smith receives Patriot’s Award from the New York National Guard

LATHAM, NY (04/25/2018) (readMedia)-- New York Air National Guard Member Master Sgt. Jeremiah Henderson, recently nominated the pastor of Pineview Community Church Bill Smith for an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot award (ESGR).

Smith and the Pineview Community Church went above and beyond caring for the service member's family and keeping him informed about current events during his six months overseas.

During the course of his deployment, several staff members reached out to him to check up on his well-being. He received several Christmas cards and letters while away. In addition, his family was provided with meals on several occasions and provided moral support. Upon return, the church expressed gratitude for his military service and has gone above and beyond to recognize patriotism during Veteran's and Memorial days.

The Pineview Community Church held a special dinner to celebrate the completion of a major building renovation, which included a new kitchen, pre-school storage room, and beautiful cross visible from the Thruway. During the dinner, Darlene Stanton presented the award on behalf of the ESGR to Smith and the elders at Pineview Community Church.

The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed.

ESGR, a Department of Defense office, was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment.

ESGR has served our country for more than 40 years, fostering a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States.