Presidential Documents

46101 

Federal Register 

Vol. 86, No. 157 

Wednesday, August 18, 2021 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 10238 of August 13, 2021 

National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, 

2021 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Since our founding, courageous men and women have vowed to serve and 

defend our country, protect our citizens, and uphold the principles of our 

Constitution. The citizen Soldiers and Airmen of the National Guard, and 

the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen of the Reserve, 

proudly carry on this tradition today. During National Employer Support 

of the Guard and Reserve Week, we thank and celebrate the civilian employers whose support of our National Guard and Reserve members helps to 

sustain our all-volunteer force and our national spirit of service. 

National Guard and Reserve members are essential to the safety and security 

of our Nation, ready to serve at home or abroad at any moment’s notice. 

From working on the frontlines of the COVID–19 pandemic, to responding 

to storm damage and raging wildfires, to deploying overseas, supporting 

peacekeeping missions abroad, and conducting multilateral exercises with 

allies and partner nations, National Guard and Reserve members put their 

lives on hold—away from both their families and their civilian workplaces— 

to stand as a shield or a support whenever our country is in need. When 

they complete their mission, National Guard and Reserve members return 

to their civilian careers and fulfill their obligation of monthly weekend 

drills and annual trainings—always ensuring they are ready to answer the 

next call to serve. 

We owe a profound gratitude to our National Guard and Reserve members, 

as well as their civilian employers. In supporting their talented employees’ 

service to our Nation, employers of National Guard and Reserve members 

directly contribute to our military readiness and our national security. As 

our Guard and Reserve members navigate the challenges that accompany 

their service, many civilian employers go above and beyond to support 

our service members and their families. National Guard and Reserve members 

should not have to worry about their civilian employment while they are 

serving on a mission, and many employers are stepping up with generous 

pay and leave policies, extension of benefits like health care for family 

members, and flexibility and support for Guard and Reserve spouses to 

help fulfill our sacred obligation as a Nation to always take care of those 

who serve in uniform. 

My Administration understands the national security imperative behind improving the well-being of our service members and their families as they 

balance the pressures of their civilian careers with the demands of military 

service. Through the First Lady’s work with Joining Forces, we are committed 

to supporting military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors through 

economic and entrepreneurship opportunities, support for military child 

education, and health and well-being resources. Ensuring continuing economic opportunities for military and veteran families through meaningful 

employment is essential, and we are grateful for all of the employers who 

understand the value in hiring and retaining National Guard and Reserve 

members and their spouses. 


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46102 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 18, 2021 / Presidential Documents 

The Biden family is a National Guard family, and we are forever grateful 

and in awe of those who, like our son Beau, understand that duty and 

service to others is what makes us who we are as Americans. We understand 

some of the unique challenges that National Guard and Reserve members 

and their families face—challenges that are made smaller because of the 

incredible, patriotic support of their employers. I encourage all Americans 

to join me in recognizing and thanking employers of our National Guard 

and Reserve members for their vast contributions to our economy, our communities, and the success of our Nation and our Armed Forces. I also 

encourage National Guard and Reserve members to recognize their employers 

who have gone above and beyond in supporting them with the Employer 

Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), the Department of Defense program 

that promotes cooperation and understanding between civilian employers 

and their National Guard and Reserve employees. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 15 through 

August 21, 2021, as National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve 

Week. I call upon the people of the United States, State and local officials, 

private organizations, and all military commanders to honor employers of 

National Guard and Reserve members with appropriate ceremonies and activities. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day 

of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the 

Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortysixth. 

[FR Doc. 2021–17801 

Filed 8–17–21; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3295–F1–P 


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