Department of Defense Announces 2006 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Recipients

Washington, DC, July 06, 2006 --(PR.com)-- Mr. Bob Hollingsworth, Executive Director of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced the 2006 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipients today:

AgCountry Farm Credit Services – Fargo , ND
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America – Minneapolis, MN
Baptist Health – Little Rock, AR
BNSF Railway Company – Ft. Worth, TX
Cardi's Furniture Superstores – Swansea, MA
Commonwealth of Massachussetts – Boston, MA
Computer Sciences Corporation – El Segundo, CA
DuPont—Wilmington, DE
Fred Fletemeyer Company – Colorado Springs, CO
MGM Mirage – Las Vegas, NV
Skyline Membership Corporation – West Jefferson, NC
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks – Pierre, SD
Starbucks Corporation – Seattle, WA
State of Vermont – Montpelier, VT
Sun Valley General Improvement District – Sun Valley, NV

“On behalf of the men and women serving in the National Guard and Reserve, I would like to congratulate these firms and thank them for their outstanding support,” said Hollingsworth. “By going above and beyond what is required by law, these firms set a high standard for all of America’s private and public employers.”

ESGR will present the Freedom Awards at a ceremony on Thursday, September 21, 2006 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

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 federal law. This prestigious award is the highest in a series of DoD employer awards that include the Patriot Award, the ESGR Above and Beyond Award, and the Pro Patria Award.

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.

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 new Minutemen. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil or by calling the ESGR office at (800) 336-4590.

###