During a recent signing ceremony at the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Greg Christopher signed a U.S. Department of Defense “Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve.” The event was hosted by Ron Bogle, State Chair of the North Carolina Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a 46-year national program of the Defense Department.
Sheriff Christopher, a 22-year Army National Guard veteran/retiree, served in the first Gulf War. Also present to honor the signing event was Sergeant Chad Christopher, son of Greg and Sherri Christopher. Sergeant Christopher, home on military leave, is currently assigned to Army’s famed 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.
Sheriff Christopher said, “This department has established and demonstrated a long history of support for our nation’s military. As sheriff, I also recognize the great value veterans of uniformed service bring to every workplace.” He added, “I consider hiring members of the Guard and Reserve or veterans as a priority for our department.”
ESGR Chair, Ron Bogle, a Haywood County resident, said, “Having known Sheriff Christopher for many years, he knows the great value Guard and Reserve personnel or other veterans bring to any workplace. I also know his strong support for hiring veterans of uniformed service is not just because it is the right thing to do – it’s the business smart thing to do for any employer.”
Bogle noted, “Employers may not view themselves in this way, but they are important allies in our national defense. The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office unites with countless thousands of other North Carolina employers, including the State of North Carolina, in affirming its support of the men and women serving in the Guard and Reserve. I hope they will prominently display this impressive Defense Department document for all to see who visit this outstanding employer.”
Sheriff Christopher added, “If we trust those serving in the armed forces to defend our nation, we, as employers, can certainly trust them to be the sort of employee we want and need in our work spaces.”
The Statement of Support program is a cornerstone of the ESGR mission to support an employment culture that values the hiring of Guard, Reserve and veteran employees. Supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the Nation’s Guard and Reserve units, which makes up approximately one-half of the nation’s “Total Force.” Hundreds of thousands of the Nation’s employers have signed a Statement of Support, with General Motors as the first signer in 1972. Any employer interested in signing a Statement of Support can learn more at ESGR.mil
Bogle concluded, “Frequently traveling North Carolina on behalf of ESGR and the Department of Defense, I welcome the opportunity to meet with any Haywood County employer interested in signing a similar Statement of Support on behalf of their business.”