SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD PRESS RELEASE
Department of Defense announces
2005 Secretary of Defense Employer Support
Freedom Award Recipients
Arlington,
Virginia
- Mr. David Janes, National Chairman of the National
Committee
for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR),
an agency of the
Department of Defense, announced the
2005 Secretary of Defense Freedom
Award recipients today:
Alticor,
Incorporated
-
Ada,
Michigan
Citizens Financial Group
-
Providence,
Rhode Island
Eaton
Corporation
-
Cleveland,
Ohio
Enterprise
Rent-a-Car
-
St. Louis,
Missouri
IDA
Corporation -
Boise,
Idaho
Los
Angeles Police Department
-
Los Angeles,
California
Louisiana Department of Safety & Corrections
-
Baton Rouge,
Louisiana
Pioneer
Financial Services
-
Kansas City,
Missouri
Ryland
Homes
-
Calabasas,
California
Sears,
Roebuck and Company
-
Hoffman Estates,
Illinois
South Dakota
State
University
-
Brookings,
South Dakota
State
of
Delaware
-
Dover,
Delaware
Toyota
Motor Sales,
USA Incorporated -
Torrance,
California
USAA -
San Antonio,
Texas
Wachovia Corporation
-
Charlotte,
North Carolina
"The 15
recipients of the 2005 Secretary of Defense Freedom Award, by the
above and
beyond support of their employees who serve in the Reserve and
National
Guard, set a high standard for all of
America's private and
public
employers.
As National Chairman of ESGR, I thank them and congratulate them
for having
received this recognition for their contributions to their employees and
the Nation",
said Janes.
The Omni
Shoreham Hotel in
Washington,
D.C. will host the award
ceremonies
on Saturday,
October 15, 2005. This patriotic evening will commemorate the
tenth
anniversary of the only national award that honors and recognizes the
impact of
National Guard and Reserve service on
America's employers.
More
National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
1555 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 200,
Arlington,
Virginia
22209
800-336-4590, 703-696-1386,
http://www.esgr.mil
Page 2 - DoD Announces 2005 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Award
Recipients
Previous
Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipients
include
Adolph Coors Company, American Express, Bank One Corporation, Colt
Safety Fire
& Rescue, General Electric, Harley-Davidson, The Home Depot, The
Los Angeles
County Sheriff's Department, The State of Minnesota, Northrop
Grumman
Corporation,
One
Source
Building Technologies,
Saints Memorial
Medical
Center,
Strategic Solutions Incorporated, Sprint Corporation, and Wal-
Mart.
Secretary of
Defense William Perry instituted the Secretary of Defense Employer
Support
Freedom Award in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee
for Employer
Support of the Guard and Reserve. The award publicly recognizes
employers,
who were nominated by their employees who voluntarily serve in the
National
Guard and Reserve, for exceptional support above the requirements of
the USERRA
Law. This prestigious award is the highest in a series of
Department
of Defense employer awards that include the Patriot Award, the
ESGR Above
and Beyond Award, and the Pro Patria Award.
Employer
Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of
Defense
agency established in 1972. The mission of ESGR is to gain and
maintain
active support from all public and private employers for the men and
women of the
National Guard and Reserve. ESGR volunteers provide free
education,
consultation, and if necessary mediation for employers of Guard and
Reserve
employees.
As the 1.2
million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to
perform an
increasing number of unique missions that require extraordinary
actions on
the part of everyday citizens, ESGR continues to be the informational
agency for
the employers of
America's Patriots.
More information about ESGR
Employer
Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at
www.esgr.mil,
or by calling the National Committee Office at 800-336-4590.