Our Views: Great support for military

• Published: Oct 5, 2009

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Jackson Parish in north Louisiana has a small Sheriff’s Office, but it is getting big recognition for its support of its seven employees who are citizen soldiers in the National Guard and Reserves.

Sheriff Andy Brown’s department in Jonesboro was among 15 employers from around the nation receiving the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

The award is the highest recognition given to employers who have gone above and beyond in their support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

Brown’s department pays the difference between department employees’ National Guard compensation and their department compensation while they are called away for duty.

The department also provides indefinite health care, dental and life insurance benefits to department employees who are called away on duty.

Additionally, Brown communicates weekly with deployed employees and encourages other employees to do the same.

Seven part-time members of the military work for the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Employer support for Guard and Reserve service is vital, especially during the trying years that have encompassed the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and four major hurricanes in Louisiana.

We commend Brown and his office for this honor.

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