Evjen honored by military

Published 9:37 am Friday, May 8, 2009

A second Hayfield resident has been honored recently for his contributions to the military.

Ron Evjen, superintendent of Hayfield Community Schools, was awarded the Secretary of Defense Patriotic Employer Award Thursday for his support of teacher and Marine Staff Sgt. Vince Reynolds and his family.

Norm Hecimovich, Region 6 chairman of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, handed the superintendent his award at the high school and thanked him on behalf of the Secretary of Defense. Hecimovich said this award — given to about eight to 10 employers per year in his region — is “only to those employees who really support our soldiers.”

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Evjen has shown support for Reynolds and his family while the soldier served in Djibouti, Africa, as well as when training was necessary since he began teaching at Hayfield High School.

Reynolds has been named “Marine of the Year,” a prestigious award bestowed upon one Marine in the United States.

A social studies teacher since 1996, Reynolds just returned from his tour in Djibouti. He will leave for a voluntary tour in Iraq in mid-September, which means he will be on leave from teaching yet another year. After that tour, Reynolds said he plans to return home to his family and teach again in the fall of 2010. He would likely stay in the Marine Corp Reserves.

“They were always willing to take a sub in,” Reynolds said of the school district.

The Marine presented Evjen with a folded flag that had flown over his camp in Djibouti as well as a certificate.

“He’s been a loyal employee,” Evjen said. “He is also loyal to our government and our armed forces.”