The Honorable Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II, Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia, signed a Statement of Support with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The ceremony took place in the first floor auditorium, Attorney General's Office, 900 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA23219.

By signing this Statement of Support, Mr. Cuccinelli joined with thousands of civilian employers and public official, who recognize that the National Guard and Reserve are essential to the strength of our nation and the well being of our communities.

Also in attendance:
• The Adjutant General of Virginia, Major General Bob Newman

• Major General (retired) Carroll D. Childers, former Commanding General of the 29th Infantry Division (Light), Virginia Army National Guard

• Roger Trout, Chair of the Virginia Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (“ESGR”)

• Mr. Mac McGuire, Senior Command Executive Officer, 80th Training Command, U.S. Army Reserve

• Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Metz, Deputy Chief of Staff, 80th Training Command, Army Reserve

• Courtney B. Wheeler, Ombudsman Director, Virginia ESGR, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve (Ret)

• Steve Villalpando, Chair, Central Virginia Committee, ESGR

• Tom Stephen, Virginia ESGR Executive Director

• Jim Hopper, SAAG and Chief of FLAGS, ESGR Ombudsman, and Colonel (retired), U.S. Army Reserve

• Cynthia “Cindy” Norwood, Senior Assistant Attorney General, FLAGS Division, ESGR Ombudsman, and a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve (80th Training Command)

• Patrick O. O’Leary, Assistant Attorney General for the Construction Litigation Section and a Major in the Virginia Army National Guard (29th Infantry Division Engineer Officer)

• Greer Saunders, Assistant Attorney General for HESS and a Gunnery Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Reserve.

• Captain Corey Stavinoha, Aide to MG Newman, Virginia National Guard

• Thad Crump, ESGR, World War II B-17 pilot with the 15th Air Force in Italy, flew 33 missions from Nov. '44 until war's end in Europe May '45, and returned to the states June '45, all before he was 21.
 
• George Hutter, ESGR, World War II Veteran in the Army Air Corps, aircrew member on a B-17.  He is a VMI grad (entered VMI after serving his three-year enlistment) and was ESGR state chair late 80's and early 90's.

• Maria Everett, ESGR Ombudsman and also is the Executive Director of the Freedom of Information Act Advisory Council and is a Senior Attorney for Legislative Services

• Barry Vanlandingham, Employer Outreach, Central Virginia Committee, ESGR

• Colleen Howe:  Represents one of the defense contractors in California, Allied Services, which is a great supporter of our military.

• Staff Sergeant Anne Lewis, Public Affairs Non-Commissioned Officer, 80th Training Command