Ted C. Alexiades, Hingham’s town administrator for the past six years, didn’t serve in the military. But he considers it his obligation to make sure those who do and work for the town have jobs when they get back.
“Under new laws, you have to have job guarantees, but it’s more than that,’’ said Alexiades, a Kingston resident who had been Hingham’s finance administrator for 16 years. “We have to help them before they go in and when they get back, and we do that through our veterans’ office.’’
For that kind of effort, Alexiades and 36 other civilian employers from across the country were honored recently by the Navy Reserve at a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, getting certificates of appreciation and a look at the military in action during exercises.
Alexiades is quick to discount the “weekend warrior’’ label often attached to reservists, saying “that doesn’t exist. If you’re on active duty, you will be called up.’’
According to a Navy website, more than 65,000 reserve sailors have been mobilized since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Alexiades said military training gives people skills that can be applied in jobs back home.
“Our Deputy Fire Chief Louis Lachance served in the Air Force, and that experience translated into upper-echelon management for us,’’ Alexiades said. “We have police officers who served in the Middle East. All of them have skills that can help us as we help them.’’
That includes helping veterans to transition back home from the isolation of serving abroad, he said, and assisting their families while they’re gone.
“It’s knowing their driveways will be plowed while they’re away, or making sure their kids have activities so it’s not all on the spouse,’’ Alexiades said. “We like to recognize military personnel when they leave and when they come back, and in Hingham we have a lot of events to do that.’’
As to his being recognized for his efforts, Alexiades said, “It was an honor, but what have I done? These people in the military are the ones spending a year away from home living in basically a storage trailer in places that are 120 degrees.’’
Paul E. Kandarian
Paul E. Kandarian can be reached at pkandarian@aol.com.
