[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            TRIBUTE TO HITCHINER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHARLES F. BASS

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 3, 1999

  Mr. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to 
recognize Hitchiner Manufacturing Company, Inc., of Milford, New 
Hampshire. Hitchiner Manufacturing tomorrow will receive the Employer 
Support Freedom Award. This award is granted annually to those select 
companies that distinguish themselves in support of the National Guard 
and Reserve. Hitchiner Manufacturing will be one of only five companies 
to be so recognized this year, and will represent the Northeast 
Region's twelve states including Washington, DC.
  Earlier this year, the New Hampshire Committee for the Employer 
Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee submitted Hitchiner 
Manufacturing as the state's nominee for this award. Hitchiner 
Manufacturing is a major New Hampshire-based manufacturing firm. It has 
more than 1200 employees at three New Hampshire plants and employs 22 
members of the National Guard and Reserve. It has always encouraged its 
employees to volunteer their time to support local and civic 
organizations, and was the 1998 New Hampshire ESGR Pro Patria Award 
winner.
  For almost 50 years, Hitchiner Manufacturing has had employee 
policies that far exceed the Uniformed Services Employment and 
Reemployment Rights Act. It has extended salary and benefit packages 
during times of national crisis as well as world conflicts, such as 
Desert Storm, Somalia, Deny Flight and Bosnia. In fact, it has a 
specific policy to compensate employees for the difference between an 
employee's civilian and military pay while performing his or her 
military training. They have also provided professional counseling to 
soldiers who are going through difficult times.
  But the company's good work goes beyond its own employees. At the 
Annual New Hampshire ESGR Awards luncheon held in January of this year, 
the Company President and CEO, Mr. John Morison, III, agreed to video 
tape his comments so that the New Hampshire ESGR Committee could share 
his thoughts and perspectives with other employers across the state. 
His presentation is now part of a major statewide Chamber of Commerce 
initiative. New Hampshire Adjutant General Major General John Blair, 
along with several key military leaders, are currently reaching out to 
Chambers of Commerce and other civic organizations across the state 
through a speakers program. ``The Value of Employing Citizen Soldiers 
in the Workplace''. It is clear that Hitchiner Manufacturing has set 
the pace for other New Hampshire-based companies to follow.
  In closing, I wish again to commend Hitchiner Manufacturing President 
and CEO John Morison and all the company's employees on this proud day.

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