Waupaca Foundry Inc., Waupaca, Wis., a Hitachi Metals company, received the Patriot Award in recognition of its support of employees serving in the Wisconsin National Guard. Supervisor Darrell Bartel was nominated for being highly supportive and respectful of his team member, Thomas Walecki, while he was on active duty. Both men work at the Waupaca gray iron casting facility.

“It’s an honor to receive this recognition, but this isn’t about me,” said Darrell Bartel, coreroom foreman, Waupaca Foundry. “This is about the servicemen and women who make extraordinary sacrifices. … I couldn’t do this alone; it takes our entire team working together for a common goal, as well as the advocacy of Waupaca Foundry.”

Walecki serves on E Company 132nd Brigade Support Battalion and served in Iraq in 2009-2010.  Walecki also had been a member of the National Guard for eight years when he joined Waupaca Foundry in 2014. Approximately 11% of Waupaca Foundry’s 3,900 workers are veterans of the armed services.

The Patriot Award is supported by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an office of the U.S. Department of Defense with the mission to encourage employment of members of the National Guard and Reserve.

“We are proud to employ veterans and team members who serve in the Army National Guard and Reserves,” said Joey Leonard, executive VP of human resources, Waupaca Foundry. “The commitment they exhibit in times of civil emergency and natural disaster, as well as in defense of our country directly translates to leadership on the job.”

(Source from: modern Casting, December 8, 2015)