Southeastern President recognized with Patriot Award
Thursday, May 22, 2014 
by: Rene Abadie
PATRIOT AWARD PRESENTED – Southeastern President John L. Crain, left, accepts the U.S Department of Defense Patriot Award from Larry L. Jones, vice chairman of the Louisiana Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Crain was nominated for the honor by Southeastern English Instructor Alan Marsh, center.
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University President John L. Crain has been honored with the Patriot Employer Award from the U.S. Department of Defense in recognition of support provided for military reservists and National Guardsmen.
Larry L. Jones, retired U.S. Coast Guard commander and vice chairman of the Louisiana Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), presented the award to Crain, who was nominated by Southeastern English Instructor Alan Marsh.
Jones said the award reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide-range of measures, including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed.
"We appreciate this recognition by the Department of Defense," Crain said. "We believe in providing as much support as possible to our students, faculty and staff who may be called to duty in National Guard and Reserve units."
A member of the Louisiana Army National Guard, Marsh was deployed to Iraq with other public affairs specialists to document the Louisiana Army National Guard's 256th Brigade Combat Team's participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Southeastern made every accommodation possible to enable me to participate in this mission, and I wanted to ensure Dr. Crain and Southeastern were recognized for their support," said Marsh, who was also activated following Hurricane Katrina.
Southeastern was previously recognized in 2011 by ESGR, an agency within the Department of Defense, with the Seven Seals Award for the institution's support of the National Guard and Reserve. The university has also been named a Military Friendly University for the past three consecutive years by "GI Jobs Magazine."
