Bassett Honored for Supporting Those Who Serve

January 30, 2016

NYS Adjutant General Presents Above and Beyond Award to Bassett

"Bassett has shown outstanding support for its drilling and deploying reservists for many years," said Dr. William LeCates, medical director at Bassett Medical Center and a Lt. Col. in the New York Army National Guard. "Employees at every level give selflessly of their time and energy. Thanks to the kindness of my co-workers, I am able to deploy with peace of mind knowing that my patients will receive the best care possible, and that my family will receive whatever extra help might be needed during my absence."

LeCates, who has completed three deployments since 2013, nominated Bassett Healthcare Network and its President and CEO Dr. Vance M. Brown for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Above and Beyond Award.

The award was presented Thursday, Jan. 28, to Bassett by Major General Patrick Murphy, Adjutant General of New York State. General Murphy leads 16,000 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard and almost 3,500 members of the New York Naval Militia and New York Guard, a state volunteer force.

"The sacrifices of those of us that wear the uniform as well as the sacrifices of our families are just one part of the equation," said General Murphy. "The support system we have back home when we serve is critically important; all of you are there for our servicemen and women every day making it possible for us to deploy in service to our country. Through your support of Lt. Col. LeCates and others, you have impacted countless lives. Our gratitude is represented in the awarding of Above and Beyond to Bassett."

Photo Caption (l. to r.): Major General Patrick Murphy, Adjutant General of New York State, presents Bassett Healthcare Network President & CEO Vance M. Brown, MD, with the Above and Beyond Award. Dr. William LeCates, medical director at Bassett and a Lt. Col. in the NY Army National Guard, nominated Bassett for the award.

In accepting the award for Bassett Healthcare Network Brown said, "I thank the men and women who protect our nation, and recognize their service. The sacrifices, however, don't end there. When one of our employees is deployed in service to our country, so many others step up back here at home and take on the extra responsibility of filling that void. We also need to honor the families our military men and women leave behind; the sacrifices they make classify them as true heroes."

LeCates, who joined the New York Army National Guard in 2008, deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2013 and most recently returned from serving in Liberia last year. His wife Deborah joined him for the presentation of the award to Bassett and received a standing ovation from the crowd gathered.

The Above and Beyond Award is presented by ESGR State Committees to recognize employers at the local level who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) by providing their Guard and Reserve employees additional, non-mandated benefits such as differential or full pay to offset lost wages, extended health benefits, and other similar benefits.

About Bassett Healthcare Network

Bassett Healthcare Network is an integrated health care system that provides care and services to people living in a 5,600 square mile region in upstate New York. Bassett Medical Center, the foundation of the network, is a 180-bed acute care inpatient teaching facility in Cooperstown, New York employing 3,000 people. The medical center offers a broad range of specialty care and maintains a strong academic program through its affiliation with Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Bassett was formally established as a medical school campus of Columbia P & S in 2009. In addition to Bassett Medical Center, the network includes five other corporately affiliated hospitals, over two dozen community-based and 20 school-based health centers, and various health partners in related fields. Learn more at www.bassett.org.

About ESGR

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program promotes cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members, which includes the National Guard, and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. ESGR is supported by a network of more than 4,600 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam-CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Volunteers, hailing from small business and industry, government, education and prior military service bring a vast wealth of experience to assist in serving employers, service members and their families. Together with Headquarters ESGR staff and a small cadre of support staff for each State Committee, volunteers work to promote and enhance employer support for military service in the Guard and Reserve. Read more at http://esgr.mil/.