Sep 20 2011
Loyola University Health System (LUHS) Emergency Department (ED) Nurse Manager Michelle Ruther, RN, MSN, was recognized this week with a Patriotic Employer Award for her extraordinary support of U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Linda Mounce, who is an LUHS ED nurse. Ruther was honored by the Illinois Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense.
The Patriotic Employer Award is presented after the ESGR receives a nomination from a guardsman or reservist in Illinois. Capt. Mounce, who is serving in the Army Nurse Corp, nominated Ruther for this recognition and stated in her narrative, "She is unsurpassed in her support for me. Even before I received mobilization orders, I always knew my requests would be honored without hesitation. Her acceptance, support and enthusiasm also have filtered down to my workplace teammates, making my transition from RN to soldier easier. I know that my job will be there when I return and I also know that I have the full support of all the leadership at my institution."
The award was presented to Ruther on Wednesday during a special meeting at Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC). Michael Holub and Terry McCollom, of the Illinois Committee of the ESGR, presented the award with thanks for the continued support of the men and women in uniform.
"The Patriotic Employer Award publicly recognizes employers who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who have answered their nation's call to serve," said Michael Holub, public affairs director, IL ESGR. "These employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation's National Guard and Reserve units. Michelle Ruther and Loyola now join thousands of employers who have demonstrated their devotion to employees in the National Guard and Reserve through full compliance with the statutory requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act law."
Capt. Mounce, who has worked in the LUMC ED since 2002, was called into military rotation in Baghdad from the reserves in January. She expects to return next year. The ED recently received an American flag that had been flown over Capt. Mounce's military base in the spring. The flag was presented to the department in recognition of Loyola's commitment to the United States Armed Forces in Iraq.
"We were grateful to receive this flag and this most recent award while Linda is so bravely serving our country," Ruther said. "We plan to display the flag and plaque in a place of honor in the Emergency Department."
Source: Loyola University Health System