(Seated L-R) Provost Barry and Ernest Loomis prepare to sign the statement of support as Maj. Angela Maxner, commander of N.H. Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention; Col. (Ret.) Ted Kehr, ESGR executive director; Gerry Boyle, ESGR Region 4 chair and Sgt. Maj. Jim Gross, N.H. Army National Guard Retention SGM, look on.

On November 20, 2003, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Virginia Barry signed a statement of support for New Hampshire National Guard and Reservists on behalf of the University, joining a nationwide campaign. Ernest Loomis, state director of the New Hampshire Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) officiated at the signing ceremony on the PSU campus.

Signing the statement of support recognizes PSU’s commitment to citizen soldiers by accommodating employee service in the Guard and Reserve, not limiting career opportunities and granting leaves of absence for training and active duty. Plymouth State was the first University System of New Hampshire institution to sign the statement of support.
—MBH