TERRE HAUTE —
A Terre Haute businessman has been honored for his support of a local U.S. Navy Reserve officer and his family.
Michael Mardis of the accounting firm of Terrell & Mardis received the ESGR Patriot Award as a result of his nomination by employee Deanna Riley.
Retired Col. Charles W. Davis of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve presented a plaque to Mardis on Wednesday morning as Riley and her husband — Chief Petty Officer Matthew Riley — added their thanks to the accountant’s recognition.
“We thank you for your support, and we appreciate it,” Riley said to Mardis.
Davis also commended Mardis for his support of America’s national security.
“Over half of our national security is now in the reserve forces,” Davis said as he presented the highest award given by the ESGR. Usually, the awards go to the employer of a service member, Davis explained, but the awards committee was impressed by Deanna’s nomination of her boss.
Her nomination states: "During the last 4 years my husband has been on multiple sets of active duty orders. [He was] deployed on the USNS Mercy to Southeast Asia in support of Pacific Partnership 2012 and is tagged to mobilize to Afghanistan [next year]. For each of these deployments my boss provides me with a flexible work schedule that makes it possible for me to get our kids to their various activities. He has also allowed me time off to take my husband to the airport or even visit him when available. Most recently he allowed me to take two mornings off so that I could have video calls with my husband while he was ashore in the Philippines. Without the support of my boss, the times during my husband's deployments would be even more difficult than they already are."
Matthew Riley recently marked his 20th year of service with the Navy. Deanna has been working for Mardis since 2005.
Part of Mardis’ understanding for the Rileys’ situation comes from his own childhood.
Mardis said that his father was an intelligence officer for the National Guard, and his family lived in France while his dad served in Europe for about nine months when Mardis was a boy. His father retired as a colonel from the National Guard, and Mardis himself served for six years.
As Mardis accepted the plaque and other tokens of thanks, including a Challenge Coin from Riley’s service on the USNS Mercy, he humbly declined any special thanks for what he feels is an obligation to the people who protect national security.
“I appreciate it,” Mardis said of the award, “but it’s undeserved.”
“I can’t agree with that,” Davis said, recounting how he has seen too many service members return home from active duty to find that they no longer have a job with their prior employer.
For more information about the ESGR Patriot Award and how to nominate an employer, go online to www.inesgr.org or to www.esgr.mil.
Reporter Lisa Trigg can be reached at 812-231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com. Follow her on Twitter @TribStarLisa
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Thank you for your support: Col. (Ret.) Charles W. Davis of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve presents a plaque to Michael Mardis of Terrell & Mardis Accounting for his support of employee Deanna Riley and her husband, U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Matthew Riley, Wednesday at the accounting firm. At left is Office Manager Mary Lou Modesitt.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Thanks from the Chief’s Mess: This Challenge Coin was presented to Michael Mardis by U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Matthew Riley Wednesday at Terrell & Mardis Accounting. The coin is from Riley's deployment on the USNS Mercy.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Patriotic Employer: The plaque was presented to Michael Mardis of Terrell & Mardis Accounting Wednesday by Col. (Ret.) Charles W. Davis of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
Discussion
Employer honored for support of military
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