U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Sablan, third right, and ESGR CNMI area chair, Rita A. Sablan, center, hold a plaque of recognition on Tuesday. Also in photo are David M. Sablan Sr., U.S. Army veteran Dayna Sunderland, Civilian Aide to the U.S. Secretary of Army Mike Sablan, ESGR outreach coordinators Rose Igitol and Joshlyn Lieto Blas.
U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan on Tuesday handed a plaque of recognition to the Guam-CNMI Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve State Committee in honor of its 25th anniversary and of its exceptional service and commitment to the islands’ servicemen and women.
Kilili personally thanked and extended his congratulations to ESGR CNMI area chair Rita A. Sablan, ESGR outreach coordinators Rose Igitol and Joshlyn Lieto Blas, and U.S. Army veteran Dayna Sunderland.
Joining them were Mike Sablan, a civilian aide to the U.S. Secretary of the Army, and David M. Sablan Sr., who was appointed in the early 1980s by then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger as state chair for ESGR.
Kilili said he commends the Guam-CNMI ESGR State Committee for its 25 years of valued service supporting the islands’ servicemembers with private sector jobs.
“I decided to pay tribute to them in the U.S. Congress,” he said. “It’s been 25 years — let’s look forward to another 25 years.”
In his tribute, Kilili said the work of Guam-NMI ESGR “is so important to supporting the well-being of our islands and our nation. Our servicemen and women make tremendous sacrifices answering the call to serve, as do their employers whose deployed Guard and Reserve members can no longer offer their skills and services for months at a time. Yet because of ESGR, these servicemembers are comforted by the knowledge of job security upon returning home and their employers are rewarded with a uniquely dedicated workforce.”
He urged his colleagues in the U.S. Congress “to join me in thanking and celebrating the Guam-Northern Marianas ESGR for their exceptional service and commitment to our islands’ servicemen and women.”
