City of Austin Honored For Support of Armed Service

The U.S. Department of Defense will honor Austin's support of its women and men in uniform at a ceremony today downtown.

The Texas Committee for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a division of the DOD, has selected the City of Austin to receive the ESGR Prominence Award for the support the city has provided its Guard and Reserve employees.  The City is just the third employer in the entire state of Texas to receive the award.

Since 2006, city leaders have increased direct support to employees who are deployed, as well as their families.  The city has also established a reintegration program for employees returning from duty.

In 2008, the City of Austin was awarded ESGR's Pro Patria Award and the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.  That same year, the city began hosting a special luncheon for more than 1,300 military veteran employees in conjunction with Veterans Day events.

“The City’s reputation for supporting its military employees is widespread and being emulated by other municipal and county governments around the state,” said Dr. Jerry Icenhower, Texas ESGR Committee Chairman.  “We are extremely proud to recognize the City of Austin as one of America’s outstanding employers supporting its employees serving in our Reserve components.”