Carter Calls for Employer Nominations for 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

(ROUND ROCK, TX) -  Employers who support the National Guard and Reserves should be publicly honored through nominations from America’s military men and women for the Department of Defense Freedom Award, according to Congressman John Carter (R-TX31).

“When employers go above and beyond in supporting members of the National Guard and Reserve, we need to make sure the entire community knows of that support,” says Carter.  “This is a great opportunity for our Texas Guard and Reservists to make known the employers in our state that back our military, by nominating them for the Freedom Award.   But the January 21 deadline is just 14 days away so they need to do so immediately.”

The Freedom Award is DOD’s highest honor for civilian employers supporting Guard and Reserve members. The award highlights those employers going to extraordinary lengths to encourage their military employees’ service and provides Guard and Reserve members a way to show their appreciation for their employers’ tremendous support.  Employers of every size and industry are eligible. The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) organization will accept nominations at www.FreedomAward.mil through January 21, 2013.

The 2013 recipients will be announced in early summer and honored in Washington, DC during a ceremony next fall.  Recipients of the 2012 Freedom Award included diverse employers such as a telecommunications company, department of public safety, Midwest law firm, and small town church.

For questions or interviews regarding the Freedom Award, please contact Beth Sherman, ESGR Public Affairs, at 571-372-0705 or by email at ESGR-PA@osd.mil.

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