[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H6812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ON THE SELECTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII AS A RECIPIENT OF THE FREEDOM 
AWARD FOR ITS OUTSTANDING SUPPORT OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND 
                                RESERVE

  (Ms. HIRONO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, every year the Secretary of Defense 
recognizes employers for their support of employees serving in the 
National Guard and Reserve. This year, the Government of the State of 
Hawaii was selected for the Freedom Award, the highest employer 
recognition award given by the Defense Department. Hawaii Army National 
Guardsman K. Mark Takai submitted the nomination.
  The State of Hawaii provides credit toward retirement for the time 
their Guard and Reserve employees are activated and offers preferential 
hiring for those who have been deployed. The State also held a farewell 
ceremony and a welcome home parade for our 29th Brigade. Notably, 
Hawaii is the only State to recognize its fallen war heroes by awarding 
them the State Medal of Honor.
  As we celebrate National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve 
Week, warmest ``aloha'' goes out to employers like the State of Hawaii 
for recognizing the unique challenges that members of the Guard and 
Reserve face in balancing their civilian lives with their military 
service.

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