The City of Irvine Police Department in California has had a number of employees deployed for active duty military service, including soldiers and Marines serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Pentagon, as well as an airman who helped provide humanitarian assistance in Haiti. Both the city and the police department have demonstrated support for their reservists in numerous ways including care packages, City Council presentations to recognize and honor servicemembers, and remembrance ceremonies on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. In 2007, the City of Irvine also adopted a Marine Corps battalion from Camp Pendleton, Calif. The City of Irvine Police Department has earned numerous ESGR awards including several Patriot Awards, the Seven Seals Awards and the Pro Patria Award. Irvine Police Lt. Thomas Allan, a Marine Corps lieutenant who serves in the reserves, said, "In addition to continuing my pay and benefits, representatives of the City and the Department sent flowers to my wife and checked in with me and my family on a regular basis to see how we were doing."

Legacy Sports International is a Reno, Nev.-based importer of firearms and shooting accessories. Three of the company's 16 employees are veterans and the company's owner is a retired member of the U.S. Army Shooting Team. U.S. Army Sgt. Boone Cutler, the reservist employee who nominated the company, was injured while serving in Iraq before joining the company's ranks. He hired while still recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and given full pay throughout the rehabilitation process. Legacy Sports International also covered the expense to relocate the nominator's wife and their three children to Reno. For many years, the company has helped military support organizations with contributions and fundraising activities. This year, the company produced collectible engraved rifles which were donated to the Wounded Warrior program for use in fundraising efforts. "Legacy Sports International all but rescued me, and without their help my life would have been much different," said Cutler "Gene Lumsden's kindness and all the support from my fellow employees display the best of America."

Logistics Health Inc., headquartered in La Crosse, Wis., provides healthcare solutions to government and commercial organizations. Company staff members regularly communicate with servicemember employees, sending care packages, letters and e-mails. Logistics Health Inc. not only supports its National Guard and Reserve employees, but also works year-round to support employees' family members during periods of deployment. A past recipient of the ESGR Pro Patria Award, Logistics Health consistently supports the military by sponsoring community events, raising funds for care package drives and military support organizations as well as rallying public support for the troops. "Logistics Health not only cares for members of the Guard and Reserve, but also our families, through continuation of full pay and benefits when we are called to active duty, and through generous support of programs and charitable organizations that benefit our military. I am proud to be a part of an organization that sets an example for employer support of service members," said nominator U.S. Army Cpl. John Mayer, who serves in the Guard.

Merck operates in more than 140 countries producing medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer and animal products. With more than 10,000 veteran and Guard and Reserve employees, Merck provides differential pay, and continuing health benefits for family members. Merck established the Veterans Leadership Network, an employee resource group that assists with recruiting candidates with military experience to help newly-hired or returning veterans acclimate to corporate life. Merck participates in career fairs across the country and places particular emphasis on recruiting candidates with service-related disabilities. Craig Henzel, Senior Finance Director at Merck and a U.S. Coast Guard Reserve commander, served in the Gulf as the commander of the Offshore Oil Skimming Operation. Henzel said, "Merck's policies are a true differentiating factor when Reservists look at Merck as a potential employer. I never had to worry about my family being affected by pay or health benefits while I was deployed. I missed my wife and children tremendously, but I knew they were in good hands while I was cleaning up the oil in the Gulf."

With more than 160 Guard and Reserve employees, Michigan State Police conducts departure ceremonies for each deployed employee and maintains constant contact with the service member throughout deployment. Upon return, each Guard and Reserve member is guided through the reintegration process by a member of the human resources division, and offered counseling and information on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Michigan Department of State Police was previously recognized for support of Guard and Reserve members with the ESGR Pro Patria Award. "After I was mobilized, it was comforting to know that the Michigan State Police would take care of my family, especially as I headed off to an uncertain future," said nominator U.S. Navy Lt. Stephen Nowicki, a reservist. "Because the Michigan State Police has such an extensive program in place to assist Guard and Reserve employees and their families, this was one less worry on my shoulders. Without the financial and emotional support Michigan State Police provided both my family and me, I would not have been able to re-enlist to serve my country following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001."

Newmont Mining Company is among the nation's largest gold producers and is the single largest employer in the rural areas of Nevada including Winnemucca, Elko, Carlin and Battle Mountain. Deployed military employees of Newmont Mining Company receive weekly emails from their team, and phone calls from senior leadership on a routine basis. Newmont pays for newspaper and magazine subscriptions to be sent to deployed service members so they continue to feel a part of their community and in touch with what is happening at home. During a company picnic, Newmont recorded a video of encouraging messages from family members, co-workers and friends. From the footage, Newmont produced and sent a personal greeting DVD to every deployed soldier. "Newmont has always supported my fellow soldiers and me in every possible way, one hundred percent. Even though Newmont is a very large company, you are never just an employee number. We are treated with respect and know that the company stands behind us and supports us every step of the way," said nominator U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Curt Prokasky who serves in the National Guard.

Southern Company, based in Atlanta, Ga., is one of the Southeast's largest producers of electricity, serving more than 4.4 million customers. Southern Company developed an active affinity group, "Military Veterans in Power," to assist the company with recruitment, integration and retention of military veterans. Members of the Southern Company family, including the chief executive officer, his wife, managers, and employees correspond with deployed service members and the company also conducted the "Write a Letter of Thanks" campaign to support employees deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The company-wide "Support Our Troops" project has sent more than 500 pounds of personal care items to deployed soldiers. After returning from deployment, employees were honored at a dinner hosted by Southern Company's CEO. U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jerome Richard, a reservist who nominated the company, noted that "as someone who has served in the military, I am proud to work for a company whose employees genuinely care about the men and women who serve our nation. Whether they are close co-workers, family or complete strangers, the efforts of our employees to honor and support our service men and women are unprecedented."

Yerecic Label, located in New Kensington, Pa., manufactures on-pack labeling. Demonstrating a strong commitment to the military, the company has provided full pay and benefits for deployed employee/servicemembers for more than 20 years. Yerecic Label runs a military support group that embraces the deployed employees, sending care packages and maintaining close contact with their families. Arthur Yerecic, company president, gives families of deployed employees his personal phone number. Labels & Labeling Magazine recognized Yerecic Label for its strong support of the Guard and Reserve. "Receiving the Freedom Award is a testament to Art Yerecic Sr. and his unwavering support of the military; presently Art Yerecic honors his father's vision through continued support of the Guard and Reserve," said Retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brian Hurst, who served in the Reserve. "Yerecic Label associates share the pride. They gave from their hearts to fill care packages sent to our deployed associates. As the soldier who nominated Yerecic Label, I am proud to know that I have the pleasure of working with people who care about their fellow associates and want to make a difference."