GE Healthcare honored for commitment to employee reservists

GE Healthcare officials today received a very special American flag from Lieutenant General Jack C. Stultz, Chief of the Army Reserve and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, this Tuesday during Memorial Day observances at the company's Healthcare Institute in Waukesha.

“GE took good care of my family throughout both of my deployments. And when I came home, not only was a job waiting for me; they welcomed me back with open arms.”

Last May, this American flag was flown in GE Healthcare's honor over Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, at the request of Chief Warrant Officer 4 John "Jay" Coyle. At the time, Coyle was serving his second tour of duty in the Middle East since 2003, this time as the Army Reserves' Senior Food Safety Officer. In his civilian life, Coyle is a Denver-based GE Field Service Engineer specializing in Computed Tomography systems (CT)

Coyle, who has been with the company for 14 years, said that GE and its management team deserve recognition for outstanding support of employees' military service. "GE took good care of my family throughout both of my deployments. And when I came home, not only was a job waiting for me; they welcomed me back with open arms."

GE Healthcare's Memorial Day program

Lt. General Stultz presented the flag Mark Vachon, President and CEO of GE Healthcare for the Americas. Accompanying the flag was a certificate that says, in part:

"Presented to GE Healthcare: These Stars and Stripes were proudly flown on the 4^th day of May 2009 over the Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, at the request of CW4 John Coyle in appreciation of your support. It represents the American resolve following the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 and bears witness to the destruction of terrorist forces threatening the freedom of the United States of America and the world."

According to Vachon, "We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to our employee reservists. Not only are they strong contributors within the GE family but their dedication to our country is admirable. We are privileged to have these brave individuals in our organization."

The program also included two additional presentations involving Coyle and Mike Swinford, General Manager, GE Healthcare Services for the Americas. First, Coyle gave Swinford a personal Certificate of Appreciation. Second, Swinford also received the "My Boss Is a Patriot" award from the Wisconsin Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Committee; Coyle nominated him for the honor.