Missouri National Guard Spc. Denise Fly recently presented a Patriot Award to J.T. Nangle, her supervisor at Stormy Point Village vacation ownership cottages on Table Rock Lake.
The Patriot Award is an employee-nominated recognition issued by the U.S. Department of Defense's Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve that singles out companies going beyond the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. For instance, employers might maintain contact with their Guard or Reserve employees while they're on training, publicly acknowledge their involvement or provide paid military leave, according to www.esgr.org.
"Sometimes, I'd find out that day that the Guard needed me, and (Nangle) never batted an eye," said Fly, who works in housekeeping and joined the Guard three years ago.
"I was gone for two weeks, and when I came back, he'd ordered a Support Our Troops flag for the flag pole, and he had a flag cover on the mailbox."
With total U.S. employers estimated at 7.4 million by the Census Bureau, only about 125,000 of them have employees in the Guard or Reserve forces. Fly is with the National Guard 117th Asphalt Team in Monett, and as part of its search and extraction team, Fly said she has responded to local ice storms and flooding.
The single parent of a 17-year-old son, Fly graduated from basic training when she was 37 years old. "If I'd known I was going to love it this much, I would have done it sooner," she said.
Stormy Point owner Pat Joyce is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL. "We salute the flag, and support those who serve," Joyce said. "If they get deployed, we'll hold their jobs and support their families."
Scenic Railway readies for Christmas
"This is the Polar Express."
With that line, lonely Billy begins a wild ride that leads to happiness in the 2004 award-winning film "The Polar Express." Beginning Nov. 6, passengers will be able to ride the Polar Express from the Branson Scenic Railway station, the only site in Missouri hosting the officially licensed train ride, said Illa Kamp, Railway vice president and general manager.
"We feel it will start a new tradition for families," Kamp said.
Florida-based Rail Events Inc. licensed "The Polar Express" from Warner Brothers Entertainment Inc., said Rail Events General Manager John Schlegel. The train rides will run at 30 venues in 25 states.
Branson's train will be decorated and lit for the nighttime rides. Children will be encouraged to wear their pajamas. "The Polar Express" story will be read to passengers while they're enjoying hot cocoa and cookies. Kamp said Hollister officials will decorate the Hollister Depot as the North Pole, and that's where Santa will board the train to give each child a gift.
There will be 60 departures beginning Nov. 8 on select Thursdays through Sundays. See the schedule at www.bransontrain.com or www.polarexpressride.com.
Gift wrappers wanted
Two upcoming events will help the Developmental Center of the Ozarks, which serves more than 1,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities in Greene, Christian, Stone and Taney counties.
With DCO fundraising off-budget by $97,000, or 20 percent, this year, the greatest funding need is for First Steps therapy for children from birth to 3, said spokeswoman Laura Skiles. Although it is state-mandated, the program is only partially state-funded with the rest coming from fundraisers, she said.
The 15th Annual Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day 5K Run/Walk starts at 8 a.m. at the Springfield Expo Center. Register at www.parkboard.org.
And Dec. 1-24, DCO operates its gift-wrap booth at Battlefield Mall's JC Penney North Court entrance. The bows at the booth are created by hand by adults in DCO's Technology and Learning Center, Skiles said.[[In-content Ad]]
Kathryn Buckstaff, membership public relations manager of Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, can be reached at kbuckstaff@bransoncvb.com.
