Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented its Patriot Award to Somerville resident, Anthony Benedetti, on December 17, 2014, in recognition of his support of employees who serve in the Massachusetts National Guard and Reserve.

Benedetti who is Chief Counsel of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the agency that provides legal representation to the Commonwealth’s indigent persons in criminal and civil cases, and administrative proceedings in which there is a right to counsel, was nominated by one of his employees, Angel Rodriguez, an investigator in the Northampton CPCS office, in appreciation of Benedetti’s support of him and his family before, during, and after his deployment to Afghanistan.

In nominating Benedetti Rodriguez said, “Anthony Benedetti deserves to be rewarded by ESGR for his determination in supporting me during my most recent deployment, and all of our guard and reserve employees. Under Benedetti’s direction, CPCS afforded me a flexible schedule when needed for my pre-deployment preparations, held my job at the same level as vacant until I returned, gave me time off pre- and post-deployment, kept me ‘whole’ financially by paying me the difference between my regular CPCS salary and my Army National Guard pay, and asked no questions when I turned in my orders, except, ‘What can we do to help?” He added, “I am proud to work for CPCS knowing that under Anthony they hire and support the soldiers in the modern Army who are vital to our national and global security.”

In accepting the award, Benedetti said, “I am proud that I could play a part, even a small one, in removing any unnecessary worries Angel could have had about his job so that he could do his best for our nation and for peace, and I hope I have done whatever is in my power to make his return to CPCS as stress free as possible. I am committed to being mindful of the issues he and others in the Guards and Reserves face, and I promise to adhere to this commitment.” Benedetti also recognized the staff of the Northampton office that stepped up and took on additional duties to fill in while Rodriguez was deployed. “Their support of their colleague should not go unnoticed. They deserve recognition for helping Angel serve knowing that his work at home would be covered.”

According to Earl Bonnett, ESGR Massachusetts Chair, “The Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve. Supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s National Guard and Reserve units.”

As the 1.3 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions with America’s border and beyond, ESGR will continue to be the resource for the employers of citizen warrior.