Labor Day is an honored tradition in this nation, an annual national tribute to the workers who have dedicated their lives to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country. Among the millions of American workers who deserve this recognition, one group stands out for its unwavering commitment to our national security — the nation’s 1.3 million National Guard and Reserve service members.
America has a long and proud tradition of embracing citizen warriors. These part-time warriors comprise a formidable, highly trained, professional force that represents nearly half of our total armed forces. Today more than 100,000 National Guard and Reserve members are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and more than 655,000 have been mobilized since the war on terror began. Their courage, dedication and contributions are truly commendable.
When members of the Guard and Reserve are deployed, their departure ripples through families, friends and the businesses that employ them. The willingness of employers to support our Guard and Reserve members makes a world of difference in their lives. At a time of uncertainty, knowing you can count on your employer to be there, to support you while you are gone and to welcome your return is enormously reassuring.
In recognition of the support provided to Reserve component members by their employers, the secretary of defense established the Employer Support Freedom Award. Each year, up to 15 organizations are selected to receive this highest honor for employers. This year’s recipients will be honored by the Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve agency in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 18 for their extraordinary contributions to the welfare of their employees.
Guard and Reserve employees value the support they get from their employers, and they reciprocate by nominating those employers for the Freedom Award. This year, a record 2,199 National Guard and Reserve members or their family members from across the country nominated their employers for their outstanding support. A national selection board composed of senior Defense officials and business leaders selected the recipients.
The 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipients range from a large American automotive manufacturer to a small, family-owned business in Hawaii; from a Midwest Native American tribe to a North Carolina law firm; from a fire department to a school district.
Hundreds of thousands of Guard and Reserve members have volunteered to serve their country, and their employers have stepped up with them. Together, they continue a tradition of citizen service that has served this nation well for more than two centuries. Their joint efforts deserve our gratitude not just on Labor Day, but all year long.
To learn about this year’s Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipients and to learn more about how employers can help their Guard and Reserve employees, I encourage you to visit baltimoreexaminer.com for a link to details. Every bit of support counts in ways immeasurable to those who are selflessly serving our nation in these challenging times.
Thomas F. Hall is the assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs.
Click here to Find out who past recipients have been, how to nominate your employer and more ways employers can help their Guard and Reserve employees: www.FreedomAward.mil
