Washington, D.C. — It’s not often that a South Dakota employer is mentioned in the same sentence with DuPont, Starbucks or the MGM Mirage of Las Vegas. However, that’s what happened Thursday night in Washington, D.C., as the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks accepted a Freedom Award.

GFP was one of 15 employers chosen nationwide to receive the award from Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, an agency of the Department of Defense. ESGR’s mission is to gain support from employers for the National Guard and Reserves.

The awards presented Thursday recognized employers whose exceptional support for Guards and Reservists went beyond federal law requirements. The Freedom Award is the highest in a series of Department of Defense employer recognitions.

Hundreds of National Guard and Reserve members from across the country nominated their employers for providing continued benefits, differential pay, family assistance and additional support to ease the transition from civilian employees to active military and back again.

Accepting the award for GFP was Wildlife Division Director Doug Hansen of Pierre.