GreyStone honors its veterans

Last week across the United States the spotlight was on veterans. GreyStone Power took the opportunity to honor the vets who are employed by, or are retired from, the member-owned electric cooperative.
On Friday, Nov. 11, GreyStone hosted a breakfast to show respect to those who have given of themselves for America though military service. Sen. Mike Dugan was the keynote speaker for the event. Dugan, who represents Georgia’s 30 th District, is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army. In his 20 years of service Dugan served as an Army Ranger and Master Paratrooper, being deployed to more than 32 countries.
He thanked the veterans for their service as only about 7 percent of Americans have served in the military, he said.
“It is kind of an elite club we are in,” Dugan said. “A vast majority of Americans owe a debt of gratitude to all of you who served.”
GreyStone Board Chair Milton Jones thanked all in attendance for their service. “Our co-op has a strong tradition of participation and recognition of veterans and military that continues today,” Jones said. Manager of Human Resources Rita Harris announced GreyStone’s partnership with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to hire more veterans through a program called Serve our Co-ops, Serve our Country.
She said the co-op participated in its first veterans’ job fair, and has extended job offers to two vets who will soon begin at GreyStone. Jones said, “Today's event projects this tradition into the future and strengthens our commitment with the recruiting initiative to hire vets.”
Each veteran in attendance received a certificate, a Challenge Coin and a bag of gifts. The idea of the Challenge Coin dates back to World War I, when a captured pilot used it as identification to prove he was an American to French forces. The coin the vets received features GreyStone’s logo on one side and an American flag with a lineman and military service members on the other.
“This breakfast is the start of a new day, a time when GreyStone Power focuses on increasing its recognition of company veterans and retirees for the years of service those of you here today sacrificially gave to help keep this country free,” said GreyStone President/CEO Gary Miller.
GreyStone Power serves more than 110,000 members in portions of eight counties, including Douglas, Paulding, Fulton, Cobb, Carroll, Bartow, Fayette and Coweta counties. Learn more at www.greystonepower.com.