Manager of Crystal Flash’s Marshall Location Honored with Patriot Award

It’s not every day that your phone rings and suddenly you’re speaking to a representative of the U.S. Department of Defense. But that’s exactly what happened last week to the longtime Plant Manager of Crystal Flash’s Marshall location, Ken Letts. It was in this phone call with the Employer Support Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, that Letts was informed that he was being recognized with the organization’s Patriot Award.

Patriot Awards are awarded to individual supervisors, not to an entire staff or organization. An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors for support provided directly to the nominating Service member and his or her family.

What makes this recognition even more meaningful to Letts is that he was nominated by a Crystal Flash delivery driver recently deployed overseas.

On Friday, October 11, Marshall plant employees, company leaders, and several proud family members assembled for a special ceremony at CF’s Marshall location, with Dennis E. Lutz, MG USA Ret. proclaiming, “The office of the Secretary of Defense and the Employer Support Guard and Reserve recognizes Ken Letts of Crystal Flash as a patriotic employer contributing to national security, and protecting liberty and freedom, by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve forces.”

Upon receiving the Award, Letts remarked, “We’ve had many Service members work for us here in Marshall over the years, some active duty and some retired. I have always been driven to support them and their meaningful service. I am very proud to work for a company that honors and values our military Service members without hesitation.”

The employee owners of Crystal Flash congratulate Ken Letts for being honored with the Patriot Award. We are grateful for the service of all CF employees currently serving, and those who have served in the past.

ABOUT CRYSTAL FLASH, INC. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Crystal Flash, Inc., is a 100% employee-owned energy distribution company serving residential, commercial, and agricultural customers across Michigan and other Midwestern states. Established in 1932, Crystal Flash specializes in the sale and distribution of propane, diesel, gasoline, and lubricants. The company currently has more than 320 employee-owners and is one of the largest independently owned energy suppliers in the state of Michigan. For more information, visit crystalflash.com.

Dennis E. Lutz, MG USA Ret. (left), Crystal Flash Plant Manager Ken Letts (right)