Archive for ◊ February, 2011 ◊

A company’s generosity

I would like to thank RSG Landscaping in Concord and company CEO Ronnie Guthrie for their participation in the Green Care For Troops program.

Over the last several years RSG Landscaping has taken care of several families lawn care needs for free during their spouses’ deployments.  Each time, they went beyond expectations in meeting the lawn care needs of these families.

I have been affected personally by my husband’s deployment. RSG Landscaping did such an amazing job being professional and customer-focused to relieve me of the stress of taking care of my yard while my husband was deployed. All work was done at no cost to me.

The generosity of RSG Landscaping made an immediate difference in the lives of multiple families in Lynchburg and surrounding areas.

I want to express my appreciation for their kindness and generosity in support of our troops and their families. Their commitment was incredibly helpful and allowed families to focus on getting through the deployment and relieved them of the worry of taking care of their yards.  RSG Landscaping’s assistance means so much to me and the other families that were touched by their genuine kindness and support of our troops.  

MARY HUGHES

Minuteman Statue

February 10, 2011

Dear Mr. Guthrie,

I would like to extend our gratitude for your professional and dedicated Services provided to my wife Sara and myself.  I recently returned from a short notice, deployment to Iraq 2010 and your company provided lawn care services to us through the Green Care for Troops Program.  Marie Hughes signed us up for the program and was instrumental in coordinating the cleanup of our neighboring business.  It just so happens that I was home from Leave from Iraq for a  few weeks right after your first service call.  The work your company did in the first week was breathtaking to say the least.  We had just returned to town and were amazed at the noticeable change at our home.  Thank You for your company providing care to deployed soldiers.  It means a lot when people and businesses step up and fill in the gaps that a deployment overseas creates.  Your employees take great pride in their work and they provide a wonderful service to troops abroad.

As a token of our appreciation please accept this replica Minuteman Statue.  The minuteman is a symbol of the first “Citizen Soldier’s” of our nation.  Minutemen were originally members of a select team of men from the American Colonial militia during the Revolutionary War.  They provided a highly mobile and rapidly deploying force that allowed the colonies to respond to immediate threats of war.  Our current Infrantry Battalion’s honors and lineage predate most American military forces.  The 1st Battalion 116th Infrant Regiment’s honors and lineage spans from multiple engagements in the Revolutionary War to our current operations in Iraq with personnel from our ranks supporting the war in Afghanistan.  Through the years, our lineage has attributed to successful missions in major conflicts throughout history.  Citizen soldiers have engaged the enemy on multiple battlefields and have come to the aid of peoples around the world.  This Battalion played major roles as the “Spearhead” in Operation Overlord on the beaches of Normandy France during World War II.  More recently our battalion has sent troops to support multiple missions, under different battalion commands.  Security was provided to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Security and Peacekeeping Operations during KFOR8 in Kosovo in Serbia and Montenegro, and Combat Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.  In 2010 we made our mark in history once again for our Battalion deploying for the first time since World Wwar II under the designation of Task Force Overlord, nicknamed from our predecessors.  we were give a short notice deployment order to support the 256th IBCT, Louisiana National Guard in Convoy Operations in Iraq.  This is the first time that members of the 1st Battalion 116th Infrantry and 1st Battalion 141 Field Artillery where on the same battlefield since the Civil War.  In attendance at our departing and homecoming ceremonies where a few World War II veterans who always show their dedication and patriotism by giving us a wonderful send off and a hero’s welcome.  We are proud of our heritage and proud of individuals and businesses around America that support our troops.  We try our best to recognize these individuals and businesses that impact soldier’s lives.  Upon return in August 2010, part of our Battalion was recently featured in Time Magazines Year in Review 2010 as one of the last combat operations in Iraq.  The Minuteman Statue is a personal gift from my wife and I, and stands as symbol for all the “Citizen Soldiers” that stand ready in the nation’s moments of need and a recognizable symbol of all the individuals that stand up and provide support for us and all our brothers and sisters in arms.

The inscription on the statue reads:

RSG LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

Thank you for your Time, Dedication, Resources and Hard Work Provided to The Citizen Soldiers of the Virginia Army National Guard.  Your Direct Support of Deployed Soldiers and their families is a testament to the term “WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS”.

Once again, I thank you for your service to the soldiers of our nation.  I have also and included 6 of our Battalion Coins for your workers that supported our landscaping.  Every soldier on this mission was presented one of these coins along with individual awards and service ribbons.  Please present these coins on behalf of our Company and Battalion Commander to your employees that supported us. Thank You.

Michael W May, Staff Sergeant, Virginia Army National Guard

Duane Shumaker

Duane Shumaker, Vice President of RSG Landscaping, Concord, VA was presented with the 2010 VNLA Professional of the Year at the Annual Breakfast Meeting in Baltimore, MD on January 6, 2011

This award is given annually to honor a member of our green industry. The selection criteria is based equally on a candidate who has spent their career promoting and advancing the horticulture industry. This individual is selected on the basis of long term contributions to the local and/or state organizations of Nursery and Landscape Associations.

Mark Maslow, incoming VNLA President made the presentation and these comments:

I want to take a moment to say a few words in regards to the recipient of the 2010 VNLA Professional of the Year! He is certainly the most deserving candidate.  I feel that his contribution to the VNLA has been remarkable. 

He started on the Certification committee in 2003 helping promote certification and administering the test in the southwest part of the state.

He has been active in the VNLA for at least 8 years joining the Board in 2006 as Certification Chair.  He has been very proactive in putting a lot of sensitive issues to bed within the VNLA, and re-established many forgotten relationships with other associations, other members, etc.  He is constantly listening to what others have to say, while sticking to what is right and what is best for the association.  He had been a real asset to the VNLA, more than most would know from what meets the eye.  His dedication and service are very deserving of this award without hesitation.

He has done this, with his other full-time job, as vice-president of RSG Landscaping and Lawn Care, a rapidly expanding landscape contractor in Lynchburg and still taking time with his wife and 3 children.

It is time to honor someone who has given MOUNDS of time and energy to not only this association, but the horticulture industry as a whole!

Therefore we would like to present the 2010 VNLA Professional of the Year Award to Duane Shumaker.