ABC receives a Patriotic Employer Award

by Jonathan McGaha | 31 January 2010 12:00 am

American Buildings Co., Eufaula, Ala., and Curtis Ketchmark, a supervisor at the ABC plant in El Paso, Ill., recently received a Patriotic Employer Award. Each year the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve honors employers and supervisors for outstanding support of the Guard and Reserve. Recipients of a Patriotic Award must be nominated by a service member or their family. U.S. Army Reserve’s Sgt. Jim Evans is a press and forklift operator who has been at ABC for nearly 20 years. Sgt. Evans was recently deployed for a second tour of duty in Iraq, but took the time to recognize his boss as an outstanding supporter while preparing for deployment.  
“Of all the things a young soldier needs to think about while he’s away, it’s amazing that he’d stop to say, ‘Hey, I want to recognize my boss,’” said retired Brig. Gen. Jay Sheedy, a volunteer with the Illinois ESGR. The Patriotic Award was presented to Ketchmark by retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Sheedy. The ceremony was attended by Ketchmark’s coworkers; city officials; Evan’s wife, Deborah; one of his children, 2-year-old James Jr.; and his brother, Tony.
“I don’t really feel that I’ve done anything that special, except treat people how they want to be treated,” Ketchmark said. ESGR is a Department of Defense organization seeking to promote a culture in which all American Employers support and value the military service of its employees. Last year approximately 14,000 employers throughout the country were honored through the Patriotic Award program.

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