Story and photo by Master Sgt. Enid Ramos-Mandell, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs.
St. Petersburg, Fla. -With the establishment of the Employer and Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR) in 1972, the military sought to recognize employers for their support through the use of the Patriot Awards.
Two Army Reserve Soldiers (ARS) nominated three of their supervisors at the All Children’s Hospital and presented the Patriot Award to them for their outstanding support of them and other employees who serve in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Staff Sgt. Timothy Heskin is a patient administrator in the 345th Combat Support Hospital (CSH) B Company, and an intensive care unit technician for the All Children’s Hospital. He nominated, Tami Lawrence, assistant director of the Patient Intensive Care Unit and Alice Pengra, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Nurse 1 and 2 for their support of his military service. “Tami and Alice understand what Soldiers go through, the stress and pressures of doing my military job, training and having the mental conflict of worrying about my civilian job. They never question my duty to the Army,” said Heskin.
Pfc. Zachary Logodny, an a
nesthesia technician also with the 345th CSH and a surgical technician at the All Children’s Hospital, nominated Liz Satterfield, operating room (OR) director. “My supervisor has given me the ability to keep my Army job. She verbally supports the Army, my mission and what I do in the reserves,” stated Logodny.
According to Heskin, “All I need to do is give Tami a set of military orders and my battle training assembly (BTA) schedule, and she will excuse me from my hospital responsibilities.”
“I took the time to nominate my supervisors for the ESGR Patriot Award because they deserved to be recognized for giving me the ability to do both jobs. I wanted to let everyone know how supportive they have been in the almost five years we’ve been working together,” he added.
“Things run very smoothly due to her caring support. It makes it easy to do what I need to do with a supervisor like her,” Heskin said
A Veteran of almost 20 years in the Army Reserves, Heskin is preparing to mobilize for the first time. “I feel very nervous being deployed. This is my first time and it’s very difficult to grasp,” he said.
Lawrence added, “We’ve worked together four to five years, and he is my right hand.”
“I’m going to miss working with him during his deployment, but we know he’ll be back. He knows his job will be waiting for him,” she said.
Logodny’s boss, Liz Satterfield says she understands his military responsibilities and when duty calls. She also added that they were fortunate to have him and believes that everyone should support our Reserve Soldiers.
“Zachary is a great anesthesia technician and sets up rooms for cases in the OR. Though he would be missed if he had to deploy, the OR would be able to manage in his absence,” she said.
“She told me that my job is secured. They’ve been supporting me even before I knew about the ESGR program,” he added proudly. “Liz makes my job easier. It’s tough to have me as an employee, because duty calls me away from my civilian responsibilities. That’s why she deserved to be nominated. I’m glad she got selected to get this award.”
Mrs. Donna Altaff, the mother of Tami Lawrence was present for the ceremony.
“I am so proud that others see what I see in my daughter-that she is appreciated by others and recognized,” she said.
“It was wonderful being nominated. I didn’t know about it,” said Lawrence.
The Patriot Award recognizes employers who go beyond the legal requirements of supporting their military reserve employees; explained Retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Edward Apodaca who presented the ‘Patriot Award’ on behalf of the ESGR to the recipients who provided unwavering support to reserve Soldiers.
Heskin and Logodny are part of the 345th CSH headquartered in Jacksonville.
If you would like to nominate your employer, contact the ESGR at 800-336-4590.
