Illinois Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

NEWS RELEASE
DATE: April 21, 2011 PHONE: (217) 761-3642
CONTACT: LTC Tim Franklin
E-mail: tim.franklin@us.army.mil

PATRIOT AWARDS RECOGNIZE FARM BUREAU, IAA SUPPORT TO MILITARY SPOUSE

Farm Bureau president, IAA supervisor honored at award presentation ceremonies April 19

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Farm Bureau president, Phillip Nelson, and Illinois

Agricultural Association supervisor, Susan Moore, were honored with the Employer Support of the Guard

and Reserve Patriot Award April 19 for the outstanding support they have shown to the wife of an Illinois

Army National Guard Soldier and IAA employee. Nelson and Moore were nominated for the Patriot

Award by employee and Illinois Guard spouse, Heather Combs, for the support she received while her

husband, Staff Sgt. Kyle Combs, was deployed to Afghanistan as a member of a Bilateral Embedded

Support Team.

“Susan hired me in the early stages of our deployment. Although I had not fully earned the right

to flexibility due to my lack of time with the company, she still encouraged me and worked with me when

it came to staying connected to my husband during this time,” said Combs about Moore, her supervisor.

“It has been a pleasure to work for a corporation that practices such devotion toward service

members and their families. I believe that this type of dedication begins with company leadership” said

Combs about Farm Bureau and its leader, Nelson. “The president and his board of directors have made a

significant effort to accommodate individuals connected to the military by establishing a military support

committee.”

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2-2-2-2-2 PATRIOT AWARDS

In addition to the Patriot Award presentations, Nelson took the opportunity to publicly renew

Farm Bureau and IAA support to the men, women and families of the National Guard and Reserve by

resigning a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve during the April 19 board of directors

meeting.

“On behalf of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, the honorable Dennis

McCarthy, Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and the men and women of the National

Guard and Reserve, I would like to thank president Nelson for signing this Statement of Support to renew

the Farm Bureau’s and IAA’s already strong commitment to our Guardsmen, Reservists and families,”

said Dr. Michael Ayers, Illinois ESGR Committee Chair. “By resigning a Statement of Support, you are

acknowledging the continued importance of service in the National Guard and Reserve to the defense of

our nation.”

“The continuing support of employers is critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the

National Guard and Reserve,” said Ayers. “Our Guardsmen and Reservists would not be able to continue

to serve in uniform, if not for the support they and their family members receive from employers like the

Farm Bureau and IAA.”

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PHOTO CAPTION: Illinois Agricultural Association supervisor, Susan Moore, shakes hands with
Illinois ESGR Committee member, Kent Sunderland, as he presents her with the Patriot Award.
Sunderland and Illinois ESGR Committee chair, Dr. Michael Ayers (right) surprised Moore with the
award at her office April 19. She was nominated for the award by IAA employee, Heather Combs, wife
of Illinois Army Guard member, Staff Sgt. Kyle Combs.
PHOTO CAPTION: Illinois ESGR Committee chair, Dr. Michael Ayers (center right) presents Illinois
Farm Bureau president, Phillip Nelson, with the Patriot Award during the April 19 board of directors
meeting. Pictured with Ayers and Nelson are (from left) Staff Sgt. Kyle Combs, wife Heather, who
nominated Nelson for the award, and Col. Paul Fanning, Director of Joint Logistics for the Illinois Guard
and an Illinois farmer.