(Richmond, VA) Attorney General Bob McDonnell received today the prestigious "Seven Seals Award" which is presented by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to employers who go above and beyond in their commitment to employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. The award was presented by Roger Trout, the Chairman of the Virginia Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. A number of military officials attended the event, including several attorneys in the Office of the Attorney General who are currently serving in the Guard and Reserve.

Speaking about the award Attorney General McDonnell noted, "This award is one for our entire office. We have a commitment here at the Office of the Attorney General to serve well those who serve our nation. I understand what it is like to work everyday, while also serving your country. I served for 16 1/2 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, and had to balance work, home, and duty. It can be difficult. We have worked to establish a culture of assistance and understanding at the Office of the Attorney General for all the members of our team who have so generously and bravely volunteered to serve our nation. We must do our best to help them as they give their all in defense of our country."

Roger Trout, of the ESGR, noted, "Today, we are honoring Bob McDonnell, not for his military service, for which we owe him a great deal of gratitude, but for his exceptional support of fellow Reserve and Guard members as an employer.  Bob McDonnell has gone above and beyond in supporting the employees in his office who are also citizen soldiers; but his support is not just for those service members in his office.  The Wall of Honor, honoring those service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the Global War on Terrorism, is the direct result of the hard work of the Attorney General and other members of his staff.  Attorney General McDonnell and his staff exemplify the spirit of America in their unwavering support of our citizen soldiers."

Currently five attorneys in the Office of the Attorney General serve as members of the Guard and Reserve, with one member currently on active duty. Earlier in his term as Attorney General, McDonnell signed the Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve and became a Five Star Supporter for the Guard and Reserve.

The Attorney General served 21 years in the U.S. Army, both active duty and reserve, retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 1997. His oldest daughter, Jeanine, recently completed service in the U.S. Army, including a tour of duty in Iraq in 2005-2006.

ESGR is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. Its mission is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts through mediation.