Musco, company president cited 'Patriotic Employer'

By WES KAPPELMAN

Reprinted with Permission from The Oskaloosa Herald

OSKALOOSA —  Musco Sports Lighting was recognized Friday afternoon for its support of an employee serving in Iraq.

2nd Lt. Kristy Goddard, 29, of Oskaloosa, had nominated Musco to be named a Patriotic Employer by the Iowa Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

In September, Goddard’s Army Reserve unit, the 603rd MP Company, was allowed a four-day pass before deploying to Iraq. The unit bussed to Philadelphia from Fort Dix, N.J., but bad weather canceled or delayed most of the flights.

After calling Jean Bieri, the marketing manager, who referred her to Sharon Cunningham, Musco’s travel coordinator, Goddard and eight other soldiers were flown home the same night on the Musco corporate jet.

Goddard’s parents, Barb and Al Goddard, of Clinton, were in Oskaloosa to see Musco President Joe Crookham receive two awards, one for the company and one for himself.

“These are wonderful people,” Barb Goddard said. “They’re like a big family.”

Barb Goddard said the ESGR contacted her after noticing a story about Kristy in the Des Moines Register. She then e-mailed Kristy, who worked with ESGR representatives through e-mail to nominate Musco.

Crookham said the team has done itself proud by making sure Kristy and the other soldiers got home. He said the pilots, Tom Shannon and Jim Gaultieri, and Cunningham worked hard to bring Kristy back.

“It’s really all about the team,” Crookham said. “They just kept working until they had it figured out.”

Al and Barb Goddard met Kristy at the airport in September.

“She was very excited,” Al Goddard said. “They did something that most wouldn’t do to help military personnel.”

Support for Kristy has continued after bringing her home on pass. Bieri said once a month someone is in charge of sending packages to Kristy.  This month, it was Julie Ver Steegh’s turn.  Ver Steegh said people have sent everything from DVDs and games to lotions. Barb Goddard said two weeks ago Kristy received 10 boxes in one day.

“We know she has people she can share with,” Ver Steegh said.

The post office has been helpful in giving information on what can be sent and how to pack things, Ver Steegh said. Kristy also offered some advice.

 “She let us know that chocolate is OK,” Ver Steegh said.

Ver Steegh said her fellow employees miss Kristy and look forward to her returning from Iraq.  Kristy’s unit works in Ramadi to train Iraqi police officers. Kristy is quoted in the October Associated Press article “Iraqi Women Serve as Ramadi Police.”

Musco is now in the running for ESGR’s “Pro Patria” Award, which is only given to one employer in the state each year. The Augustine Farm in Rose Hill received the Pro Patria Award last year before it received the ESGR’s highest honor, the Freedom Award.