Pictured L-R: Josh Wyant, Director of Facilities & Trades and U.S. Army Veteran, Jim Redmon, Superintendent of Facilities & Trades and Illinois Army National Guard member, Allison Niemela, Batavia Park District Executive Director and Michael Holub, Vice Chair for the Illinois Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
Josh Wyant, Batavia Park District’s director of facilities & trades, received the Patriot Award this week from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program whose mission is to create and maintain a culture of support for employers across the United States.
Patriot Awards are given to recognize civilian employers who provide high-level support for employees with military commitments in the U.S. Army National Guard or Reserve.
Jim Redmon, a 10-year member of the Illinois Army National Guard and the Park District’s Superintendent of Facilities & Trades, nominated Wyant for the award. Wyant also is a U.S. Army veteran.
Michael Holub, vice chair for the Illinois Committee of the ESGR, presented the award to Wyant. “On behalf of the U.S. secretary of defense, congratulations to Josh Wyant for being awarded this Patriot Award,” Holub said. “We always say don’t take your employers for granted. Support starts at the top. Josh has been nominated because of his ongoing support given to one of our service members,” he said.
Redmon thanked Wyant for his ongoing flexibility and support: “No matter how quickly I’ve had to change my duties, Josh has filled in and rearranged things. I’m thankful for him. We have a great family here, and it makes it easier to go through this together.”
“I, too, served in the military many years ago, so I know what it’s like,” Wyant said. Wyant served in the U.S. Army’s First Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas. “Jim does great work and I’m happy to help support him; we all are,” he said.
