The Santa Ana Police Department national finalists for the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

For Immediate Release

Contact: Lt Col Michelle Barrett
                     703-380-9262
                     [email protected]

Two California Employers Named National Finalists for
2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

ARLINGTON, Va. –­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ The Santa Ana Police Department and Consolidated Electric Distributors of Westlake Village, Calif. have been selected as two of 35 national finalists for the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.  The award is the U.S. Government’s highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is also significant because only members of the National Guard and Reserve or their family members may nominate their employers for the award.  

The Santa Ana Police Department and Consolidated Electric Distributors, nominated by a Reserve Component service member in South Carolina, were selected from more than 3,200 nominations submitted. From the 35 finalists, a national selection board comprised of senior defense officials and business leaders will select the 15 recipients of the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, which will be announced by the Department of Defense in July.  The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., Sept. 17, 2009 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

About ESGR

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972 that seeks to promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees. ESGR recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of the law, and resolves conflicts through mediation. More information is available at www.esgr.mil.

About the Award

The Freedom Award is a Secretary of Defense award that was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. Previous recipients include American Express, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Sears, Home Depot, the State of Tennessee and the Winner School District of South Dakota.  For more information, please visit www.FreedomAward.mil.