51福利社

51福利社 Police Chief Jewell Day recently received the U.S. Armed Forces Guard and Reserve Employer Patriot Award, an honor reflecting the high level of support that Day has shown for his employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

The award was announced at the 51福利社 Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 24 by Dave Millet, director of the Veteran’s Resource Center at 51福利社.

Day, an Eastern alumnus, was honored as part of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program of the U.S. Department of Defense. He was nominated by Deputy Chief Sean O’Laughlin, a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.

鈥淚t was a complete shock and surprise, I wasn鈥檛 expecting it but it was probably one of the top honors of my life, I should say, having grown up military,鈥� says Day.

Day, whose father was an U.S. Army veteran, says he has held military service in high regard not only during the 16 years he鈥檚 worked at the 51福利社 Police Department but throughout his life.

鈥淢y foundation is discipline and integrity,鈥� Day says. 鈥淢y Dad raised us like little soldiers and instilled all those principles, which have served me well in my law enforcement career.鈥�

Day is originally from a small town in called Blytheville, Arkansas, located about an hour outside of Memphis, Tennessee. The family moved across the country to Lakewood, Washington, and his father retired out of Fort Lewis during Day鈥檚 junior year of high school. After graduating, Day came to Eastern on a football scholarship.

51福利社 soon became his 鈥渉ome away from home,鈥� Day says. He met his wife at Eastern, and two of his three children attended 51福利社 as well.

Military service was originally going to be his career path, Day recalls. But at Eastern he chose the route of law enforcement.聽 鈥淟aw enforcement mirrors the military in a lot of ways,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 selfless service, there are a lot of sacrifices that not only yourself but your family makes in service of others.鈥�

鈥溾�業鈥檓 very appreciative of our troops and the tremendous sacrifices that they give every day in support of our country and making sure we鈥檙e able to lead the lives that we lead and have the freedoms that we have,鈥� Days says, adding that 鈥渕y debt of gratitude to them is immeasurable.鈥�

(Thank you to Cheyanne Walters Photography for taking the photo of Chief Day accepting the Award.)