The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. Nominations must come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating, or from a family member. The award was created to publicly recognize employers who provide exceptional support to their National Guard and Reserve employees. It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the Department of Defense.
The Freedom Award is presented annually to the nation's 15 most supportive employers. The nomination season opens the first working day of November and closes the third Monday of January.
The recipients for 2010 are:
- Bill Bragg Plumbing – San Francisco, Calif.
- City of Irvine Police Department – Irvine, Calif.
- Dollar General Corporation – Goodlettsville, Tenn.
- East Carolina University – Greenville, N.C.
- Food Lion – Salisbury, N.C.
- Franklin’s Printing – Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Intuit Inc. – Mountain View, Calif.
- Legacy Sports International – Reno, Nev.
- Logistics Health Incorporated – La Crosse, Wis.
- Merck – Whitehouse Station, N.J.
- Michigan State Police – Lansing, Mich.
- Newmont Mining Corporation – Denver, Colo.
- Southern Company – Atlanta, Ga.
- State of Hawaii – Honolulu, Hawaii
- Yerecic Label – New Kensington, Pa.
For more information about the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award and recipients, and to nominate your employer for supporting your Guard or Reserve service, please visit: www.FreedomAward.mil