(Cedar City, UT) - The Patriot Award was preseneted in January to Steve Burton, Principal of East Elementary School in the Iron County School District. The Patriot Award is presented by the Department of Defense "Employer Support of Guard and Reserve" (ESGR) in recognition of employers for practicing leadership and personnel policies that support employee participation in the Guard and Reserves.

1st LT Jeff Quarnberg, C Battery, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery of Cedar City, Utah, nominated his supervisor for outstanding support of the Guard and Reserve.

ESGR was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve component members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. ESGR operates through the service thousands of volunteers throughout the nation.

Award nomination form

An intregal part of the Utah National Guard and Army Reserve support programs is the Utah Family Assistance Center. Their mission is putting families first and creating relationships of trust thereby enhancing the readiness and well being of military families through information, education, programs and resources.