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The following organization received the 2008 Freedom Award
Freedom Award TrophyLochinvar Corporation
Lebanon, TN
Lochinvar Corporation President, William Vallett, Jr., receives the 2008 Freedom Award at a Sept. 18 ceremony in Washington, DC. (Left to right), Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Thomas F. Hall, Mr. Vallett, Director, Air National Guard, Lieutenant General Craig R. McKinley, and Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Dr. David S. C. Chu. Photo by Brien Aho
Lochinvar Corporation President, William Vallett, Jr., receives the 2008 Freedom Award at a Sept. 18 ceremony in Washington, DC. (Left to right), Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Thomas F. Hall, Mr. Vallett, Director, Air National Guard, Lieutenant General Craig R. McKinley, and Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Dr. David S. C. Chu. (Photo by Brien Aho)
Lochinvar Corporation, located in Lebanon, Tennessee, is a recipient of the 2008 Secretary of Defense Freedom Award in the category of Small Business. The Company has previously received the Patriot Award, the Above and Beyond Award and the Pro Patria Award. Lochinvar provides continuation of full salary and all benefits while National Guard and Reserve employees are deployed. Additionally, the company continues 401K contributions and, in one instance, provided two salary increases while an employee was serving abroad. Lochinvar has donated $2,000 to initiate a Family Readiness Group for a deployed employee’s unit and vows to pledge more as needed. During employee deployment, Lochinvar conducts care package drives that include headlamps, DVDs, books and other comfort items. The largest care package drive included 15 boxes and 200 pounds of topsoil, grass seed and fertilizer. The deployed employee’s unit that received the care package had the only plot of grass in the region, visited, touched and admired by soldiers, airmen, and NATO forces throughout the Task Force. To help with the long summer days, a care package full of inflatable pools was sent to deployed soldiers and airmen who provide Air Medevac. Lochinvar supports Guard and Reserve employees’ families by including them in company outings and picnics while their loved ones are deployed. When one employee’s unit returned, Mr. Bill Vallett, Jr., President of Lochinvar, asked aloud, “What’s next? Let’s find another deployed employee’s unit to help out.”
Lochinvar Corporation, with the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Photo by Brien Aho
Lochinvar Corporation, with the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. (Photo by Brien Aho)
Lochinvar Corporation President, William Vallett, Jr. with Deputy Secretary of Defense, Gordon England. Photo by MC2 Molly Burgess
Lochinvar Corporation President, William Vallett, Jr. with Deputy Secretary of Defense, Gordon England. (Photo by MC2 Molly Burgess)
 
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award
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