United We Roll at Stardust Radio

First off, what is this Freedom Award that comes from the Secretary of Defense and is given each year to Employers around the country?

Well, the official site at http://www.freedomaward.mil/ offers a complete explanation on their front page in addition to a lot more information.

"The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

Nominations must come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating, or from a family member.

The award was created to publicly recognize employers who provide exceptional support to their National Guard and Reserve employees. It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the Department of Defense.

Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the National Guard and Reserve. The Department of Defense shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. This award recognizes employers who provide the most outstanding support for their National Guard and Reserve employees and is presented annually by the Secretary of Defense."

As you read through the fifteen recipients of the 2010 award - 15 employers selected from the 2500 employers nominated - and the support they provide to their deployed employees and families, it is clear to see why they were selected for this award and why most have received other awards as well.

Our hat is off to the Freedom Award recipients of 2010 and years past, and to all employers who have reached out to their deployed employees & families when duty to our country and freedom have called them away from home.

2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Awards
(http://www.freedomaward.mil/CurrentRecipients.aspx)

Bill Bragg Plumbing
San Francisco, CA
Nominated by the company’s office manager, Bill Bragg Plumbing has been providing plumbing and heating services in San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma counties since 1968. With only five employees, Bill Bragg Plumbing remains in constant contact with the deployed service member’s family by offering help and support where needed. Upon a Guardsman or Reservist’s deployment, the company owner steps in to fulfil the duties of the missing employee to alleviate additional stress or burden. Bill Bragg Plumbing has also received the ESGR Above and Beyond Award.

Dollar General Corporation
Goodlettsville, TN
Nominated by a systems analyst, Dollar General Corporation is the nation’s largest small-box discount retailer with more than 8,400 stores in 35 states. The company was named one of 2010’s top “Military Friendly Employers” by G.I. Jobs and a “Military Spouse-Friendly Employer” by Military.com. Employees send care packages, letters and much needed supplies to their co-workers actively serving overseas. Dollar General Corporation, a past recipient of the Above and Beyond Award and ESGR Pro Patria Award, honors all service members with a Veterans Day event and offers discounts to Veterans and their families.

East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
Nominated by the University’s director of general surgery residency, East Carolina University, a public college with more than 27,000 students, is the third largest university in North Carolina. Named a “2010 Military-Friendly School” by GI Jobs Magazine, ECU maintains an office at Fort Bragg to educate service members about academic programs available to enrich their careers and service experience. ECU employees also support their fellow deployed co-workers by sending care packages and checking in on the families left behind during deployments. To further support their military students and employees, ECU has established “Essential Life Skills for Military Families (ELSMF),” a series of one-day workshops that equip Guard and Reserve service members and their families with family–readiness tools to use during deployment. East Carolina University has received several Patriot Awards and the ESGR Pro Patria Award.

Food Lion
Salisbury, NC
Food Lion, nominated by a store manager from New Bern, N.C., operates more than 1,300 supermarkets under the names of Food Lion, Bloom, Harveys or Reid’s. Food Lion leadership and employees send care packages, provide home repair, attend children’s events, send flowers to spouses and provide lawn care for deployed coworkers’ families. Food Lion, a past recipient of the Patriot Award, Above and Beyond Award and the ESGR Pro Patria Award, allows employees who are spouses of deployed service members to transfer to other stores to be closer to family during deployments. Over the past year, Food Lion has donated gift cards, phone cards, non-perishable food and a variety of other items to service members.

Franklin's Printing
Murfreesboro, TN
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.

Hawaii State Government
Honolulu, HI
Nominated by a state legislator, the Hawaii State Government was selected for the Freedom Award for its outstanding support of Guard and Reserve members. The Hawaii State Government provides credit to government employment retirement for deployed years and preferential hiring for members of the Guard and Reserve who have been deployed. In addition, the state held a welcome home parade and celebration upon the return of the 29th Brigade to Waikiki. The Hawaii State Government received the ESGR Pro Patria Award in 2009 and 2010.

Intuit
Mountain View, CA
Nominated by a director of strategy and corporate development, Intuit provides business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses; banks and credit unions; consumers and accounting professionals. Named one of the 2010’s top “Military Friendly Employers” by G.I. Jobs, Intuit offers its Guard and Reserve employees continued company bonuses during deployments. All service member employees are eligible for the Employee Assistance Program which provides confidential counseling. Intuit assigns each deployed service member a “Military Network Leader” and a human resources representative to maintain contact and assist the employee and family members. The company is a recent recipient of the Pro Patria Award and 18 Intuit managers have received the Seven Seals Award.

City of Irvine Police Department
Irvine, CA
Nominated by a police lieutenant, the City of Irvine Police Department was awarded this year’s Freedom Award for outstanding support of its Guard and Reserve employees. The police department demonstrated support by sending care packages to deployed employees and coordinating special city council meetings honoring the service of military members. The City of Irvine Police Department has earned numerous ESGR awards including several Patriot Awards, the Seven Seals Awards and the Pro Patria Award.

Legacy Sports International
Reno, NV
Legacy Sports International was nominated by their credit manager, and imports firearms and shooting accessories. With a staff of 16, including three Veterans, Legacy Sports International provides full benefits during deployments. The nominator, who was injured while serving in Iraq before becoming a Legacy Sports International employee, was hired while still recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and given full pay throughout the rehabilitation process. Legacy Sports International is a recipient of the ESGR Pro Patria Award and is also a strong supporter of the Wounded Warrior Program.

Logistics Health Inc
La Crosse, WI
Nominated by a vaccine storage and distribution coordinator, Logistics Health Incorporated provides healthcare solutions to government and commercial organizations. Logistics Health Incorporated regularly communicates with their service member employees, sending care packages, letters and e-mails. Logistics Health Incorporated not only supports their fellow Guard and Reserve employees but the military as a whole, sponsoring community events, raising funds for care package drives and rallying public support for the troops. Over the past year Logistics Health Incorporated, a past recipient of the ESGR Pro Patria Award, has contributed nearly $120,000 to military support organizations and military fundraisers.

MERCK and Company Inc.
Whitehouse Station, NJ
Nominated by a senior finance director, MERCK and Company Inc. operates in more than 140 countries producing medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, consumer and animal products. With more than 10,000 Veteran and Guard and Reserve employees, MERCK maintains contact with deployed employees by sending care packages. MERCK established the Veterans Leadership Network, an employee resource group with a mission to assist recruiting of candidates with military experience, to help those newly-hired or returning from service acclimate to corporate life and serve as a point of contact for deployed employees through a buddy system. MERCK previously received the ESGR Pro Patria Award.

Michigan Department of State Police
Sterling Heights, MI
Nominated by a detective sergeant, the Michigan Department of State Police was selected as a Freedom Award recipient for outstanding support of Guard and Reserve members. With more than 160 Guard and Reserve employees, the Michigan Department of 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 previously received the ESGR Pro Patria Award.

Newmont Mining Corporation
Denver, CO
Nominated by a senior mine maintenance planner from Elko, Nev., Newmont Mining Corporation is one of the world's largest gold companies. Employing more than 31,000 workers and contractors operating in eight countries on five continents, the company is headquartered in Denver, Colo. Newmont Mining Corporation provides deployed employees continued 401K matching and participation in the stock and grant program. Newmont Mining Corporation is the largest employer in the rural areas of Nevada and employs 45 percent of Guard and Reserve service members in those areas. Employees contact their deployed co-workers on a weekly basis, sending care packages, cards, and letters while taking care of the families they leave behind. In 2009, Newmont Mining Corporation conducted a “Holiday Support Our Troops” drive, to send essential items including pre-loaded phone cards, candies, pre-packaged food items and toiletries to three areas in Iraq and Afghanistan. Newmont Mining previously received the ESGR Pro Patria Award and over 20 ESGR Patriot Awards.

Southern Company
Atlanta, GA
Southern Company, nominated by a program strategist, is the nation’s largest producer of electricity and serves more than 4.4 million customers in the Southeast. The company’s “Support our Troops” project has sent more than 500 pounds of personal care items to military members in Iraq and Afghanistan. After returning from deployment, employees were honored at a company-wide dinner hosted by the chief executive officer. Southern Company and its subsidiaries have received numerous Patriot Awards, Above and Beyond Awards and the ESGR Pro Patria Award.

Yerecic Label
New Kensington, PA
Nominated by the company’s vice president of manufacturing, Yerecic Label has been a manufacturer of on-pack labeling for over 40 years. Currently three of the company’s employees are actively serving in the military. The support for their Guard and Reserve employees includes continued support through care packages and follow-up with the family at home. The company’s president gives his personal phone number to families of deployed employees, should they need any additional support. Recently, Yerecic Label, a recipient of the ESGR Pro Patria Award, was recognized in Labels & Labeling Magazine for their support of the Guard and Reserve.

It makes this American heart very proud and grateful for these understanding and caring fellow Americans. Thank You for reaching out to those who serve and their families.

"Federal Judge Overturns Nebraska Ban on Flag Mutilation"

I encourage you to read the article dated September 3rd which can be found at the following site. It is brief and will take only a moment of your time to read. http://www.military.com/news/article/judge-overturns-nebraska-flag-mutilation-ban.html?ESRC=eb.nl (If you Google the title, you will find more articles that read almost the same.)

If you can read this and then turn your mind to something else and not give this article a second thought, then you must be less complicated than am I. When I read things like it is okay to burn or desecrate or spit on our beautiful flag of the United States of America because that is a form "protected speech", my first reaction is a major case of nausea followed by a whole lot of you have to be kidding me!

Our flag was previously protected by law. That was back in a time when people still used manners, addressed elders appropriately, crime rates were much lower and kids could still safely ride their bikes in their neighborhoods.

Flash forward to nowadays, when doors must be locked, kids are not safe on most streets, crime rate is sky rocketing, road rage is an everyday event, people show very little respect for others, etc., and the law exists to "unprotect" our emblem of freedom - so protesters can trample on the flag whenever they feel like throwing a tantrum because something is not going the way they want it.

According to Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech_in_the_United_States

"Flag desecration has continually, albeit controversially, been protected by the First Amendment, despite state laws to the contrary. A Constitutional Amendment has been introduced to contravene the First Amendment's protection on flag burning, but it has failed to acquire the requisite enactment by the states.

Despite the exceptions, the legal protections of the First Amendment are some of the broadest of any industrialized nation, and remain a critical, and occasionally controversial, component of American jurisprudence."

About.com has a great outline of legislative actions that have been made to protect Old Glory that is an easy read and would make for a terrific family focus one evening instead of the TV. you can find this at http://civilliberty.about.com/od/freespeech/p/flagburning.htm

Are we prepared to do what it takes to protect our flag's existence and honor? I would almost bet if this project was turned over to schoolchildren across the country, they might do a better job than have some adults.

Update on Iowa Disabled VSO Jailed September 4th as Iowa Court
Does Not Acknowledge USC Title 38, Chapter 53 (part IV, Section 5301)

Discussion with Disabled Vet Jerry Bohr on September 4th before reporting to jail in http://www.stardustradio.info/downloads/offespecialreport090410.mp3

History: We have brought you the story of Jerry Bohr, a Disabled Veteran (60%) who also serves as an Iowa state Veteran Service Officer and how he has been ordered to jail for "Contempt of Court" in his divorce case where the County judge has ordered his Disability Pay to be used as a divisible asset. The sentence was handed down 2 weeks ago by Judge Richard D. Stochl, 1st Judicial District Court of Iowa, for noncompliance of a previous child support order. It is this previous order which has led to Bohr’s incarceration. Jerry Bohr refused to comply with his divorce settlement agreement which wrongly calculated his VA disability compensation into his divorce as ‘income’ and therefore a ‘divisible asset’. Bohr was found in contempt of court for not honoring the attachment of his veteran’s benefits to his divorce settlement, now Jerry Bohr is on his way to jail. According to Federal Code this practice by state court judges is a violation of the Federal laws which protect veteran’s benefits from the claim of creditors, from attachment, levy, or seizure by or under any legal or equitable process whatever, either before or after receipt by the beneficiary.

Status: Jerry Bohr of Ossian, Iowa was ordered to jail on September 4th to begin his 30 day sentence. If he does not agree to the judge's ruling within that time period, the sentence will turn into another 30 days and so on. As ordered, he did report by 5pm on September 4th.

Update: The following link will take you to a recorded conversation with Mr Bohr on September 4th before he had to appear at the jail at 5pm Central. We encourage all who are concerned for our Disabled Veterans to listen to the recording and to keep up to date on this most important issue of "Federal Code 5301". It is often the Disability Pay, earned by giving up one's health in the service of our country, that is the only income a Disabled Vet has and is the only thing that may keep a roof over their head.

Discussion with Disabled Vet Jerry Bohr on September 4th before reporting to jail in http://www.stardustradio.info/downloads/offespecialreport090410.mp3

Keep up to date on this and the other one hundred and four Disabled Veteran cases currently being followed with www.offe2008.org in the "Area 5301" section.