BROOKINGS –  South Dakota Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program, recently announced that representatives of two local businesses, Bel Brands and Cooks Waste Paper and Recycling, were honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of their service member employee.

Mich Cook with Cooks Waste Paper and Recycling in Brookings, was honored with a Patriot Award. Cook was nominated for being highly supportive of his employee, by Terry Baragar, who serves in the South Dakota National Guard. Baragar said he nominated Cook for the award to thank him for his support of his duties in the National Guard. 

Alex Ode with Bel Brands in Brookings was also honored with a Patriot Award.

Ode was nominated for being highly supportive of his employee, by Michael Stonem, who serves in the South Dakota National Guard.

Stone said he nominated Ode for the award to thank him for his support of his duties in the National Guard. 

The Patriot Award, created by ESGR, publicly recognizes 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. 

ESGR seeks to foster 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. 

ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members, and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within DoD. 

For more information about ESGR outreach programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, visit www.ESGR.mil.