Crader Distributing Honored by Department of Defen

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) area chairman Matt Jenkins honored Don, Stan, and Val Crader of Crader Distributing Company of Marble Hill with the Department of Defense ESGR Patriot Award, in recognition of their extraordinary support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

The Craders were nominated by Master Sergeant Darrell 'Colt' Sievers of rural Altenburg, who serves in the 164th Airlift Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard, and is currently serving in Afghanistan. Darrell stated that, as a new employee, he was hesitant to tell the Craders that he was ordered to deploy overseas. "Both Stan and Val explained that their father, Don, was one of the most patriotic men you could know. "We believe in our country, our military, and our employees," said Stan. Val added, "Your job is safe and will be here when you get back!" Darrell went on to say that the Craders have supported him in all aspects of his military service. "The Craders truly stand behind and support their employees who serve in the military."

Crader Distributing Company, headquartered in Marble Hill, is proud to be the exclusive distributor of STIHL Outdoor Power Equipment in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Southern Illinois. Along with the company's sister organization, Blue Mountain Equipment in McKinney, Texas, which services Texas and Oklahoma, Crader provides quality STIHL power equipment to over 1300 dealers throughout the Midwest. A family owned business with a long history of providing superior customer service, Crader takes great pride in the atmosphere of trust and mutual respect it enjoys with the businesses it supplies.

The ESGR Patriot Award was created by the US Department of Defense to publicly recognize individuals and businesses who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation's call to serve. Supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation's Guard and Reserve units. Employers are nominated by their military employees.