Midwest Heritage, a subsidiary of Hy-Vee, Inc., was recently named a 2015 Freedom Award Nominee by the Iowa Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. ESGR presented Midwest Heritage with the nomination in recognition of its support of employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. Midwest Heritage was one of 43 Iowa companies to receive a nomination for the prestigious award.

Midwest Heritage was nominated for the Freedom Award by Kevin Waldron, operations associate at the Hy-Vee West Lakes branch in West Des Moines. Waldron is a specialist with the Iowa Army National Guard and has been employed by Midwest Heritage since 2013.

“We are honored to be recognized for supporting our employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve,” said Tony Kaska, president of Midwest Heritage. “Going the extra mile to support employees who are serving our country is the right thing to do for them and their families. We appreciate these employees and their sacrifices.”

The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the Department of Defense to employers for their support of National Guard and Reserve members. Nominations for the Freedom Award must come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating or from a family member.

ESGR runs the annual awards program on behalf of the Secretary of Defense, which has presented the honor to 205 employers since 1996. Up to 15 employers will be selected from a list of nominees from all 50 states, Guam-CNMI, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia for this year’s award. Winners will be honored at the Pentagon in an official ceremony in August.