In a heartfelt ceremony held at City Hall, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth honored the Hendersonville Police Department for receiving the prestigious 2025 Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. This accolade was initially announced on July 7, 2025, with the Hendersonville department being one of only 15 organizations nationwide to receive this esteemed recognition for their support of military reserve component employees.
During the event, Hegseth, a former National Guardsman with deep ties to Tennessee, expressed his gratitude and pride in presenting the award in person. “This place means a lot to me; what these men and women do means a lot to me; and what ESGR does means a lot to me,” he stated, underscoring his appreciation for the dedication shown by those in attendance.
Hegseth emphasized the importance of recognizing true heroes in society, urging children to interact with those who serve in the military rather than idolizing superficial figures in popular culture. “If you want to look for heroes … just look around this room,” he declared, highlighting the bravery and commitment of law enforcement and service members alike.
Acknowledging the sacrifices made by the department’s 15 reserve component service members, Hegseth praised their decision to serve the military while managing demanding full-time jobs. “That’s the bedrock of what a country is built on. That’s how you know that you’re not just free, but you live free because you’re committed to the very service at a baseline level,” he remarked.
The secretary reassured department employees of the unwavering support they receive from their leaders, including President Donald J. Trump. “If the top has your back … that means you can go out — step out on a difficult issue … and do your job the right way, and execute knowing you have that support,” Hegseth affirmed, also noting the broader assistance provided by ESGR to service members and their families.
In closing, Hegseth expressed his gratitude to the Hendersonville Police Department for their commitment to the community and their flexibility in allowing military personnel to serve. “Thanks for what you do with this community [and] for your willingness to let [the service member employees] go elsewhere, to serve the country as well,” he said.
Established in 1996, the ESGR’s Freedom Award program has recognized exceptional employer support, honoring 370 organizations to date, reaffirming the vital role that employers play in aiding our nation’s servicemen and women.
In addition to the Hendersonville Police Department, the following 14 organizations also received the award in 2025:
- Cox Enterprises; Atlanta
- GE Aerospace; West Chester, Ohio
- GM Financial; Fort Worth, Texas
- Honeywell; Minneapolis
- Kimberly-Clark Corporation; Neenah, Wisconsin
- Anchorage Fire Department; Anchorage, Alaska
- Coppell Independent School District; Coppell, Texas
- Metropolitan Airports Commission; Minneapolis
- Mike Monroney; Oklahoma City
- Air Aviation; Allen, Texas
- Art C. Klein Construction Inc.; Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Boyd Jones; Omaha, Nebraska
- Graham Construction; Des Moines, Iowa
- MI Technical Solutions; Chesapeake, Virginia
