The US Foodservice Paducah KY Division has been honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of employees who serve in the Kentucky National Guard and Reserves. The presentation was made by the Kentucky Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the US Department of Defense.
US Foodservice also signed an ESGR statement of support for the National Guard and Reserve, joining other employers in pledging that:
•It fully recognizes, honors, and enforces the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA).
•Its managers and supervisors will have the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.
•It will continually recognize and support US service members and their families in peace, in crises, and in war.
The Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen-warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve.
US Foodservice’s Paducah division was nominated for the award by employee First Sgt Thomas L Adkins. Specifically, Adkins nominated supervisors Larry Milliken, Jimmy Kiser, Debbie Williams, and Randy Finnie.
Adkins cited the strong support of US Foodservice during both of his deployments. In 2004, the Paducah center placed supportive yellow ribbons on every truck in its fleet. During his second mobilization in 2008, Adkins fractured his neck and injured his spine in a fall. He is still in rehabilitation.
He said his US Foodservice supervisors have stayed in contact with him and his family, and assured him his job would be waiting for him when he returned. While mobilized, he said the company also delivered a Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas ham to his family.
More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil or by calling Reginald Youngblood, Kentucky Committee executive director, at (859) 312-8800.
