Franklin's Printing to Receive DOD Award for Guard and Reserve Support
ARLINGTON, VA—08/18/10—The Department of Defense (DOD) has announced that Franklin’s Printing of Murfreesboro, TN, will receive the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their outstanding support of their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. Franklin’s Printing was selected as one of only 15 employers from across the nation to receive the 2010 Freedom Award.
Almost 2,500 Guard and Reserve members, or their family members, from across the country nominated employers for exceptional support, which included providing full salary, continuation of benefits, care packages and even family support to employees fulfilling their military obligation. On behalf of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, a National Selection Board comprised of senior defense officials, business leaders and prior Freedom Award recipients selected the 2010 Freedom Award honorees.
Franklin’s Printing, nominated by the company’s bulk mail manager, is an independently owned and operated full-service printing, business and marketing materials company. The company’s support of Guard and Reserve includes no penalties to the employee’s vacation or leave for military service. With only 13 employees, Franklin’s Printing provides additional support to the military by donating their time and talents, including printing brochures for local military groups, military personnel and their families at no cost. Franklin’s Printing has also received the ESGR Pro Patria Award and the Above and Beyond Award.
The Freedom Award will be presented to Franklin’s Printing during a formal ceremony Thursday, September 23, 2010 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. The other recipients include:
Bill Bragg Plumbing – San Francisco, CA
City of Irvine Police Department – Irvine, CA
Dollar General Corp. – Goodlettsville, TN
East Carolina University – Greenville, NC
Food Lion – Salisbury, NC
Hawaii State Government – Honolulu, HI
Intuit – Mountain View, Calif.
Legacy Sports International – Reno, NV
Logistics Health Inc. – La Crosse, WI
MERCK and Co. Inc. – Whitehouse Station, NJ
Michigan Department of State Police – Lansing, MI
Newmont Mining Corporation – Denver, CO
Southern Co. – Atlanta, GA
Yerecic Label – New Kensington, PA
“With 2010 marking the 15th anniversary of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, it gives me great pleasure to announce this year’s recipients,” said James G. Rebholz, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) National Chairman. “Franklin’s Printing and this year’s other recipients are among the top U.S. employers that provide outstanding support for Guard and Reserve employees. Their superior and unselfish initiatives to support their Guard and Reserve employees make them indispensable partners in the defense efforts of this country. We are truly grateful for their unwavering support.”
About ESGR and the Freedom Award
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). ESGR is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972 whose mission is to develop and promote employer support for Guard and Reserve service by advocating relevant initiatives, recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of applicable laws, and resolving conflict between employers and service members. Since 1996, only 130 companies have been presented with the prestigious Freedom Award. For more information, please visit www.FreedomAward.mil.