Army Maj. Carl Fassbender, assigned to the Minnesota National Guard, nominated his employer, 3M, for the overwhelming support the company provides service members and their families. The company provides support through its Military Support Network, an internal employee resource group created by an employee in 2009 to honor her son who was killed in action in Afghanistan. "Everyone at 3M is supportive of military employees, from the top leaders who championed the Military Support Network, down to supervisors and coworkers providing personal support to help service members and their families throughout deployments," Fassbender said. The MSN supports 3M military employees and their families who have been called to serve or are affected by deployments. For more than a century, 3M leaders have embraced a core set of values, which include making contributions to company, community and country. In fact, 3M’s CEO and president personally requested to be the executive sponsor when MSN was founded. The network has raised awareness about those serving our country to strengthen connections between deployed 3M employees and their peers at work in the office, and has established guidance and training programs to ease transitions and foster community throughout the deployment cycle. The company’s commitment to those who serve has gone beyond the walls of 3M as well. 3M has helped two other companies establish internal military support programs, and is one of only 14 companies designated by the Minnesota governor as a “Yellow Ribbon Company.”

Air Force Lt. Col. Bruno R. Stopka, assigned to the Missouri Air National Guard, one of four employees who nominated the company for a Freedom Award, said the encouragement and financial support he received has made all the difference in his career. During his three overseas deployments since 9/11, Stopka’s company stood by him and other military employees, providing differential pay and full health benefits. “I salute my employer, Ameren, and its employees, who truly stand behind supporting their Guard and reserve soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen and Marines, and continue to recognize those who have previously served our great country.” A Fortune 500 company, Ameren is the holding company for utility companies in Illinois and Missouri serving 2.4 million electric customers and nearly one million natural gas customers. The company has a long history of military support dating to 1919 when the American Legion was first established in St. Louis at the utility’s headquarters building. Across all regional divisions, nearly 600 of Ameren’s approximately 9,300 employees have served in the military, with six percent hired in the last year. Ameren partners with the Missouri governor’s “Show-Me Heroes Program” to hire veterans and established a military recruitment Web page. Ameren sends care packages to deployed employees and their family members, and offers reintegration resources. The company certified several of its apprenticeship programs so veterans and service members can access their GI Bill apprenticeship and on-the-job training funds. In addition, Ameren has pledged up to $1 million in energy credits to deployed military families in Missouri.

From care packages to shoveling snow at his home while he was deployed, the Burt County Neb., Sheriff’s Office has provided exemplary support to Navy Chief Petty Officer First Class Jamie Keatts, U.S. Navy Reserve who also is a sheriff’s deputy. That’s why he nominated the office for a 2011 Freedom Award. Burt County, located in northeastern Nebraska, covers 493 square miles with the county seat residing in Tekamah. The Burt County Sheriff’s Office supports 3,170 households, with a total population of 6,881. The office is led by Sheriff Robert Pickell and is comprised of 10 employees with just five deputies, including Keatts. “I take so much pride in working for Sheriff Pickell, simply because he takes pride in me and what I do,” said Keatts. “Sheriff Pickell is an amazing boss, person and friend.” Keatts said the daily emails and continuous care packages he received from BCSO while deployed kept him feeling as if he had never left home. BCSO also supported him by checking on his home, keeping the yard presentable and shoveling snow to make sure the house did not appear empty. Pickell adjusted Keatts’ schedule to ensure he did not lose pay as a result of his military service, and personally covered Keatts’ shifts while he was away for drill weekends. Before Keatts left for Afghanistan, and upon return, BCSO threw parties to show their appreciation of his service. “I cannot put into words what support I have from my boss and the Burt County Sheriff’s Office,” said Keatts. “I cannot express the gratitude and thanks I have for my employer.”

U.S. Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major John Gipe, in nominating CSX Transportation, declared if there were ever an employer who deserved a “Lifetime Freedom Award,” CSX Transportation would be it. The company has supported Gipe, a locomotive engineer, through the nearly 10 years he has been activated, well beyond the five years of job protection required by the federal law. "I have been on military leave from CSX Transportation since three weeks after Sept. 11, 2001,” Gipe said. “Every time I was selected to serve in a higher position, CSX was extremely supportive. They congratulated me, encouraged me to continue to serve, and assured me my job would be waiting when I returned." CSX, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., is a leading supplier of rail-based freight transportation in North America. A recipient of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in 1998, CSX is the first employer to receive the award twice, garnering three nominations in 2011. Gipe said CSX’s strong support of the military also is evidenced by its participation in 245 veteran and military job fairs last year, major contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project’s “Warrior at Work” program, and employment of a workforce with 22 percent veterans or currently serving members of the Guard and reserve. The company also champions the CSX Military Affinity Group which facilitates programs to support both military employees and their families.

Army Staff Sgt. Devin Brisbois, a reservist, said the family-owned Electrical Contractors Inc. has provided exceptional support to him and his family, including buying them a new refrigerator while he was deployed. Based in Omaha, Neb., Electrical Contractors owner J.J. Williams “has gone out of his way to support me and my family. He serves as an example to other employees who continually find ways to help and support me,” Brisbois said. During Brisbois’ deployment, his wife told him their refrigerator had stopped working. When his boss heard about it, he ordered a new refrigerator, had it delivered to their home and covered the cost. Other deployment support included the company providing lawn care, snow removal and maintenance for the home, and providing babysitting services for the couple’s three children so Brisbois’ wife could attend her evening college class. When Brisbois’ friends and family decided to thank him for his service by secretly restoring the 1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee he never had time to work on, Brisbois’ boss made a considerable donation towards the project and helped arrange the surprise unveiling. “Mr. Williams didn’t have to do any of these generous things, but he is a patriot and he understands what a sacrifice it is to serve in the military,” said Brisbois. “I cannot thank him enough for what he has done for me and my family.”

Navy Lt. j.g. Todd Brook, a reservist nominated the Ford Motor Co. for a Freedom Award because of the company’s support in word and deed for its Guard and reserve employees. Brook said Ford, based in Dearborn, Mich., supported him and his military mission by sending 30 boxes of coloring books and stuffed animals for the Iraqi children he met on patrols. These packages joined the 800 care packages, weighing over 11 tons that Ford has sent to its deployed employees, and sons and daughters of employees, since 2006. More than 230 Ford employees have deployed 9/11, with many employees deploying multiple times. The Ford Veterans Network Group cares for service members’ families, inviting them to company events and offering any assistance they may need while their loved ones are away. Brooks says he nominated Ford because the company and its employees understand the necessity of the citizen soldier and the difficulties their loved ones face as a result of their commitment. “Simply put, Ford Motor Company has made it possible for hundreds of Reserve and National Guard employees to serve the Nation in support of not only Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, but other missions throughout the world vital to national security, global stability and humanitarian assistance,” Brook said. “Serving our country would not have been possible, had it not been for the unwavering support of co-workers and the many exemplary leaders who believe in nothing but absolute support for the troops.”

Army Maj. Craig Holan, assigned to the Illinois Army National Guard, nominated Hanson Professional Services Inc. for a Freedom Award because the company helped his military unit repair a bridge in Iraq. The bridge was damaged by improvised explosive devices, and Hanson provided pro-bono engineering assistance and helped design an overhead cover structure for the unit. Hanson is an employee-owned company headquartered in Springfield, Ill., specializes in engineering, architecture, planning and a range of allied services. Named a Freedom Award finalist in 2010, 10 percent of Hanson’s employees have served in the armed forces. Company executives regularly review policies to identify ways Hanson can better support service members and have assisted in efforts to help secure funding for two Illinois Guard initiatives. Hanson’s supportive policies even encouraged one employee to join the Guard and another to return to Guard duty. Holan said that during his deployment, one of the company’s senior vice presidents and his wife took Holan’s wife and young daughters on a shopping trip to pick out care package supplies using money collected by co-workers. The company also provided much-needed emotional support to Holan’s family through monthly gift baskets and regular phone calls. "They took care of my family when I was gone,” Holan said. “My boss would check in on them. I just didn't have to worry. I wish all members of the Guard and reserve could say that about their employers."