The Sheriff’s Office is one of 30 finalists in the nation being honored for supporting a deputy, who serves his county and country.

U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) yesterday congratulated the Sheriff's Office on being selected as one of 30 national finalists for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award..0

“It is indeed an honor to be narrowed down to just 30 for this award,” said Sheriff Lee Foster. “It is a sacrifice to have a member of the National Guard for the soldiers family, their work family and the soldier. However the sacrifices are indeed worth it as we reap the benefit of being protected at home and abroad to enjoy the freedoms we have acquired.”

The Sheriff's Office, nominated by School Resource Office Wesley Palmore, who is also a captain in the Army National Guard.

Palmore’s nomination of his employer was selected from more than 2,500 nominations submitted for the award. Thousands of U.S. employers were nominated for outstanding support of guard and reserve employees, which included providing full salary, continuation of benefits, care packages and even family support to employees fulfilling their military obligation.

Roughly half of the military's manpower comes in the form of reserves or the National Guard. The award is the U.S. Government's highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the award, which was instituted in 1996 under then Secretary of Defense William Perry.

“Supporting our troops is one of my top priorities, and I am extremely proud that the Newberry County Sheriff's Office has made it one of theirs,” Spratt said.

From the 30 finalists, a national selection board comprised of senior defense officials, business leaders and prior Freedom Award recipients, representing small business, large business and public sector employers, will select the 15 recipients of the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Recipients will be announced by the Department of Defense in early summer.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., Sept. 23 at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center.

Palmore has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 1993 and with the guard for 23 years.

“We are very proud of National Guard Captain and our Lt. Wesley Palmore. His work family pulls together to take up his duties while he is away as well as support his duty to country,” said Foster. “We honor his service as well as all of the citizen soldiers.”

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 gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve Service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law and resolving conflict through mediation.

Since 1996, only 130 companies have been presented with the prestigious Freedom Award.