04/30/2026
Mrs. Hazel Rowe Honored with ESGR Patriot Award
April 24, 2026 — Mrs. Hazel Rowe (MSN-ED, RN-BC, LGB), Nurse Manager for Performance Improvement at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, has been honored with the prestigious Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The award was presented by ESGR volunteer BJ Harrison and Captain Heath Cupples during a Teams meeting at the VA Hospital in Little Rock.
Mrs. Rowe was nominated by Capt. Cupples of the 189th Medical Group, based at Little Rock Air Force Base. During the presentation, Capt. Cupples thanked Mrs. Rowe for the support she has provided throughout his military career. He shared that he wanted to recognize Mrs. Rowe in front of her staff—most of whom viewed the award presentation online—for her continued support of military members.
Surprised by the recognition, Mrs. Rowe said she simply worked with Capt. Cupples to ensure he received the time off needed for unit training and mission requirements.
The Patriot Award recognizes employers who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their Guard and Reserve employees and their spouses by offering flexible schedules, time off before and after deployments, and a supportive workplace environment.
From left to right: Captain Health Cupples, Patriot Award Recipient Mrs. Hazel Rowe, ESGR volunteer BJ Harrison