American Red Cross NMI Chapter executive director John Hirsh told the Variety that they are honored and thrilled.
“We appreciate the fact that the ESGR recognized the support that we gave to our employees who are reservists,” Hirsh said.
The ESGR committee conferred the national Pro Patria Award to the American Red Cross-NMI chapter.
“Pro Patria” means “For the country,” and it is an award that honors the uncommon patriotism by an employer.
Hirsh said their employee Kennedy Benjamin wrote an essay describing how supportive the NMI chapter is for all its employees who go on deployment.
Benjamin has been the health and safety coordinator of the NMI chapter for the last four years.
He will be leaving tomorrow for a one-year deployment abroad.
Hirsh said that the organization will continue to support any of its employees who are reservists or servicemembers by adopting policies that make it easier for them to participate in the National Guard and Reserve.
Besides the NMI chapter, the other local employers honored by the ESGR were the Division of Environmental Quality, Northern Marianas College Joeten Enterprises, the Public School System, the Department of Public Safety, the Commonwealth Ports Authority, Saipan Hollywood Theaters, Saipan Stevedore Co. Inc., and POI Aviation.
