HORSHAM, Pa. – Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, announced that Fulton Bank is a recipient of the Secretary of Defense Freedom Award. The recipients of this prestigious award include small business, large private business and public sector employers, that are nominated by a National Guard or Reserve employee in their organization. Award nominations are accepted from all 50 states, Guam-CNMI, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and District of Columbia.

The award will be presented to Fulton Bank at a formal ceremony at the Pentagon in late August. 

The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the Department of Defense to employers for their exceptional support of National Guard and Reserve members. On behalf of the Secretary of Defense, ESGR runs the annual award program, which has presented the honor to employers since 1996.

Fulton Bank is one 15 employers selected to receive the prestigious 2024 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award this year. Recipients will be honored at an award presentation ceremony that will be held at the Pentagon on August 22.

Pennsylvania Army National Guard Col. Brett Gagnon nominated the Fulton Bank for the Freedom Award for their outstanding support of his military career. In nominating the bank for the award, Gagnon stated that corporate executives, managers, and coworkers all sent cards, letters, and other items to him and unit members during his most recent deployment. Bank personnel also maintained contact with his family, providing gift cards and support to his wife and children. Fulton Bank provides outstanding benefits to Guard and Reserve members. Deployed service members receive 52 weeks of differential pay while maintaining family health, retirement, and investment benefits.

Pennsylvania ESGR is particularly proud to see Fulton Bank receiving the award for their strong support of their employees serving in our nation’s Reserve forces. The bank’s nomination was selected from the 30 nationwide finalists.

State ESGR Chair Marty Kuhar said: “Fulton Bank ensures everyone understand the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) law. All supervisors are trained annually, USERRA posters are at each work site, and it is in the new employee handbook and on the company intranet. Numerous Fulton Bank supervisors have received a Patriot Award, Seven Seals Award, and Above and Beyond Awards. They have also attended an ESGR Boss Lift event and awards luncheon for which the received a Pennsylvania ESGR Certificate of Support. Fulton Bank cares about their military members! Most importantly, Fulton Bank demonstrates their strong support for citizen soldiers serving in the National Guard and Reserve forces.”

ESGR, a Department of Defense office, seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States. ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members, and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within DoD. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, please call 1-800-336-4590 or visit https://www.esgr.mil/PA.