Mercedes-Benz of Eugene staff receive Patriot Award

The Department of Defense program award honors employers supportive of staff who serve in the National Guard or Army Reserve.

Mercedes-Benz of Eugene’s General Manager Ralph Parshall and Service Manager Simone Williams received the Patriot Award on Tuesday for their support of Service Technician Sgt. Richard Welford.

The Department of Defense’s Employment Support Program award honors employers and managers who are outstanding in their support of employees who are also in the National Guard or Army Reserve. The employment program is sometimes referred to as ESGR, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Sgt. Welford nominated Parshall and Williams, writing about his appreciation for their understanding about his obligations to the federal government and how they had accommodated his military training schedule.

“I could not do what I do if it wasn’t for the support of Mercedes-Benz of Eugene and its patriotic and veteranhonoring team,” Welford wrote.

Welford is a member of the USAR 671st Engineer Company serving in the 91B Motor Pool of the Army Reserve. He has eight years of service with the U.S. Army Reserve, including having served eight months in Iraq.

Welford presented the award to Parshall and Williams on Tuesday, along with ESGR representative Bert Wheeler.