For Immediate Release
Date: October 3, 2013

City of Savannah Residential Refuse Director John Denion was presented with the Patriot Award today by the U.S. Department of Defense for his support of an employee who is also a member of the Georgia National Guard.

Denion was given the honor for his actions to accommodate the National Guard duties of Sanitation Bureau employee Kisher Bland. Denion was recognized for offering flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, family support and granting leaves of absence.

“She is the one who we need to thank for providing service to our City and service to our Country,” Denion said during the ceremony at Thursday’s City Council meeting. “Supporting her sacrifice is part of how things work in the Sanitation Bureau. It takes all of us working together.”

Bland, who dressed in her National Guard uniform during the ceremony, serves as Administrative Assistant in the Sanitation Bureau.

“I’d just like to thank everyone here for standing behind me,” she said. “It means so much.”