By U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Josh Weaver—
Muncie, IN—One weekend a month, three weeks a year, and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. That’s what Citizen Airmen do part time, but full time we live and work locally in communities around the world.In order to serve, Airmen need support from civilian employers.
Employers like Joe Wrin, Franchise Owner of Home Instead, whose support of his employees who serve in the Indiana Guard and Reserve has earned him the Employee Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Pro Patria Award after being nominated by Master Sgt. Steven Leach, 434th Air Refueling Wing Command Post controller.
“Mr. Wrin has always been supportive of what the military does,” said Leach. “It’s only fair to acknowledge and recognize people that make military life easier for you and your family”
Coming from a military family where his dad served in Vietnam, and two older brothers served in the Marine Corps, Wrin saw firsthand the sacrifices service members make and looks at support of the military as a no brainer.
“We all benefit from what our service members do, I benefit from that, my kids benefit from it as well as the rest of my family,” said Wrin. “So there’s almost like this social mortgage on all of us to make life easier on our veterans and those still serving.”
In a press release regarding the award, Steve Williams, State Chair of the ESGR noted just how big of an accomplishment the award is, and emphasized why employers like Wrin are so vital to service members.
“The ESGR Pro Patria Award was created to publicly recognize U.S. employers providing extraordinary patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who have answered their nation’s call to serve,” said Williams. “Supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve.”
For Leach, who after a four month deployment in response to COVID-19 nominated Wrin for the award, this public recognition of his employer’s support has been a long time coming.
“After my deployment, I just said I have to submit him for this award,” said Leach. “I just can’t think of anyone else who would support an employee the way Mr. Wrin supported me during that time. It shows you there are people out there who are very compassionate for what our service members do for our country.”
While Wrin has never served in the military himself, he looks at support of service members as his way of contributing.
“It’s really cool to somewhat participate at a low level in the mission that our military carries out,” he said. “It’s the least that I can do, and I’m very proud to be able to do it.”
By receiving the Pro Patria award, Home Instead joins thousands of American employers who provide Guard and Reserve members with support far beyond the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), but Wrin looks at his contributions as simply the right thing to do.
“I just want to make life a little easier for anybody who serves,” said Wrin. “As employers we should be supporting everyone who serves and making it easier for them to do so. I’m extremely proud to do my part.”
