128 ARW Hosts ESGR Breakfast with the Boss

  • Published
  • By Airman Morgan Lipinski
  • 128th Air Refueling Wing
MILWAUKEE --  The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve sponsored the annual Breakfast with the Boss event here at the 128th Air Refueling Wing on May 12, 2014.

The ESGR Breakfast with the Boss event recognizes the civilian employers of guardsmen and reservists for the support and flexibility they give to service members.

As an employer of service members, Charles Goddard, president of Marinette Marine Corporation, said, "We have folks that have gone out on deployments and have come back and we cherish those people that do that."

During the breakfast, five service members received the Major Richard I. Bong Award. Recipients of the Bong Award included Marine Sgt. Bradley Shaw, Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Danielle Wells, Nave Petty Officer 2nd Class Phillip Balestrieri, Army Sgt. Bridgette Kidd, and Air Force Technical Sgt. Kitrina Vargas, who is with the 128 ARW.

The award is given to service members who have displayed outstanding skill, dedication, and professionalism on and off duty.

Several distinguished guests attended the event including Governor Scott Walker, Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar, Brig. Gen. Mark Anderson, Brig. Gen. Gary Ebben, and Col. Dan Yenchesky.

"[Service members] are some of our best employees," said Goddard, who was also the guest speaker at the ESGR Breakfast with the Boss event. "We encourage a lot of our suppliers to hire our veterans and our guardsmen."