Patriot Award

Fire Department Receives Patriot Award from Department of Defense
In June of 2011, the Wisconsin Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, honored Fire Chief Tracey Kujawa with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of firefighter Armando Ramon who serves in the United States Naval Reserve.

According to Dick Vallin, Wisconsin's ESGR Chairman, "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.

Chief Tracey Kujawa was nominated for being highly supportive of the Fire Department's U.S. Naval Reserve component employee, HM2 Armando Ramon, of the Operational Health Support Unit. Supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation's National Guard and Reserve units."

As the 1.3 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions with America's borders and beyond, ESGR will continue to be the resource for the employers of citizen warriors. ESGR provides education, consultation, and if necessary mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees.