U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is encouraging Missourians who are members of the National Guard or Reserves to nominate exemplary employers for an award that recognizes their support and commitment to their employees serving the nation as members of the Guard and Reserves.

The Department of Defense sponsors the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award as part of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program. Nominations for the department’s highest recognition for civilian employers who have supported Guard and Reserve members are open to all employers-large, small, private and public-for only a short time longer.

“This award gives us a chance to highlight some of the outstanding employers in Missouri that are going above and beyond to support the men and women who sacrifice so much for our country,” said McCaskill, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and daughter of a World War II veteran. “This serves as a great reminder that we should all be doing everything we can to support our nation’s heroes who give up so much to protect our freedom.”

McCaskill has been a strong advocate for the ESGR program as a means to support the service of members of the Guard and Reserves. McCaskill previously arranged a statewide conference call with ESGR representatives, the Missouri National Guard, and employers in Missouri to help find solutions and identify ways to give our Guardsman and Reservists more support.

Guard and Reserve members, or a family member acting on their behalf, may nominate their employers at www.FreedomAward.mil. The deadline to nominate is January 20, 2014.