HELENA, Mont. – Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve State Chair Tim Fox attended a veterans roundtable meeting with Governor Greg Gianforte to kick off Invest in Veterans Week. The meeting, held at the veteran owned 1889 Coffee House in Helena, was designed to highlight Montana’s veteran support community. Montana has among the highest number of veterans per capita, and the state is looking to expand opportunities to veterans and recruit active and retired military to Montana.

The roundtable discussion revolved around supporting and expanding opportunities for Montana veterans, the needs of members of the Guard and Reserve, veterans, and active-duty military personnel and their families. Attending were Governor Gianforte, state legislators, the Adjutant General of Montana Major General John P. Hronek, II, Adjutant of the American Legion Department of Montana Duane Cunningham, several veterans, a veteran business owner, a Great Falls public school educator who is a veteran and who has his students build homes for veterans and others who are homeless, and two spouses of veterans. The media from KTVH and Helena Independent Record also attended.

“Most people don’t understand the sacrifices to do it unless you actually worn the uniform to do that. So, it’s just really neat to see that what we can teach them for the skills that they have to defend our country and protect our state, that they can also translate that into being a great professional and to make a difference in this world,” said Major General Peter Hronek, the Adjutant General for the State of Montana.

A broad range of topics were discussed including veteran suicide, VA benefits and services, efforts to assist with recruiting and retention in the Guard, and possible future initiatives to assist military service members and their families. Fox spoke about ESGR as the lead U.S. office of the Department of Defense promoting cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and their National Guard and Reserve employees.

Photo: On Monday at, Governor Greg Gianforte kicked off Invest in Veterans Week with a veteran’s roundtable discussion at the veteran owned 1889 Coffee House in Helena, Montana. Attending the event was Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve State Chair Tim Fox as well as state legislators, the Adjutant General of Montana Major General John P. Hronek, II, Adjutant of the American Legion Department of Montana Duane Cunningham, several veterans, a veteran business owner, a Great Falls public school educator who is a veteran and who has his students build homes for veterans and others who are homeless, and two spouses of veterans.