Noranda pledges support for National Guard and Reserve

New Madrid - One of Southeast Missouri's largest employers, Noranda Aluminum, continued their commitment to the men and women who serve in the National Guard or the Reserve by signing a Statement of Support For the Guard and Reserve at the New Madrid smelter.

By signing the document, Noranda Aluminum Plant Manager Frank Davis pledged on paper what the company has done in practice to recognize and support our country's service members and their families.

"We are proud to employ veterans and Service members," said Davis, "who bravely served our country, and those who continue to serve in the National Guard and Reserve."

"We appreciate the sacrifices Service members have made to protect our country," Davis said, prior to introducing retired Major General King E. Sidwell, former Adjunct General of the Missouri National Guard from 2005 to 2009.

"One way for us to maintain freedom is by maintaining a strong military, and we can't do that without the Guard and Reserve," said Sidwell, addressing Noranda employees and representatives of the Guard and Reserve.

"The most important thing for a soldier, airman, reservist or guardsman, is to know when they deploy, that both their family and their job is secure," Sidwell said.

"By signing a letter of support today," said Sidwell, "you are talking to the entire community to say, we are patriotic, and that we support America."

Veterans and Service members make-up about 20 percent of the aluminum smelters' workforce.

The ESGR Statement of Support is designed to increase employer support by encouraging them to act as advocates for employee participation in the Guard and Reserve. The Guard and Reserve makes up nearly half of the nation's total available military manpower.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency and no- cost resource that recognizes supportive employers, informs service members and employers about the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and provides conflict mediation services. The Statement of Support program has been the cornerstone of ESGRs effort to gain and maintain employer support.

Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation is a leading North American integrated producer of value-added primary aluminum products and high quality rolled aluminum coils. Noranda is a public company controlled by affiliates of its private equity sponsor.