GFD leaders honored for support of firefighter in military

Grafton Fire Chief Bill Rice and Assistant Chief Matt Karpinski were honored at last week’s Village Board meeting for their support of employees who serve in the military.

Master Sergeant Brandon Gumm, a Grafton volunteer firefighter and member of the 128th Air Refueling Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard, nominated each of the  two fire department members for a Patriot Award.

“Chief Rice and Assistant Chief Karpinski played an integral role while I was deployed to the United Arab Emirates,” Gumm wrote.

“They maintained clear and consistent communication with my unit and my family members, ensuring resources were available if needed.

“In addition, they provided support to my family while I was deployed in Southwest Asia.”

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an organization that recognizes employers who hire Guard and Reserve members and demonstrate “superior support” of the employee and their family, presented the awards.

“Chief Rice and Assistant Chief Karpinski have provided outstanding support and cooperation and exhibited a patriotic spirit, which is reflected in the significance of being a recipient of the Patriot Award,” ESGR representative Jim Malcolm said during the Nov. 19 Village Board meeting.

The ESGR was founded in 1972 by the Department of Defense to develop and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service.