American Legion presents Employer of the Year awards
L3 Communications was awarded the Medium-sized Employer of the Year Award during The American Legion 96th National Convention. (Photo by Tom Strattman)

American Legion presents Employer of the Year awards

The American Legion honored two North Carolina companies and another in Texas with Employer of the Year awards at its 96th national convention in Charlotte, N.C.

North Carolina Food Service in Fayetteville was recognized for the large-employer category (201-plus workers); L-3 Communications ASD in Fort Bragg, N.C., for medium-sized employers (51-200 workers), and M1 Support Services in Abilene, Texas, for employers with 50 or fewer workers.

The awards, presented by The American Legion’s National Veterans Employment & Education Commission, are given to businesses across the country that have established outstanding records in employing and retaining veterans, workers with disabilities and older members of the work force.

To be eligible for an Employer of the Year Award, nominees must be a private-sector business operating for at least five years, cannot restrict its employment to veterans-only, and must have at least 10 percent of its work force made up of veterans.

Employment Service Awards of the Year were also presented in six categories to the following:

Local Veterans’ Employment Representative: Robert O’Keefe, Columbus, Ohio

Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist: Roy Fillion, Grand Forks, N.D.

Employment Local Office: Brazos Valley Workforce Solutions, Bryan, Texas

Enhance the Lives of the Disabled: Sioux Steel Company, Inc., Sioux Falls, S.D.

Employer of Older Workers: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho, Coeur d’Alene

Homeless Veterans Outreach Award: The American Legion Department of Oregon, Eagle Point