Guard member’s nomination leads to national award for Willmar business
August 18, 2021 (WILLMAR, Minnesota) – The Department of Defense recently named Minnesota’s Marcus Construction a recipient of the 2021 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. On Wednesday August 18, 2021, the company celebrated that prestigious recognition at an event in Willmar.
The Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest U.S. government honor employers who provide exceptional support to National Guard and Reserve employees can receive. Any Guard member or Reservist can nominate an employer, spouses are eligible to submit nominations as well.
The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, or ESGR, reviewed 3,382 nominations before selecting 15 companies for 2021.
Community members, leaders, members of the Minnesota Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and Minnesota National Guard gather August 18, 2021 in Willmar, Minnesota to celebrate Minnesota’s Marcus Construction for receiving the Secretary of Defense’s Employer Support Freedom Award for its outstanding support shown as an employer of members of the National Guard. This award was one of only 15 given to employers across the 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia in 2021. “I am proud to salute the outstanding employers who have earned the distinction of being named Freedom Award recipients as we mark the 25th year of this highly coveted recognition,” said Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III. “The men and women of the National Guard and Reserve make significant contributions to our communities and our national security through their civilian and military careers. We owe a debt of gratitude to these exemplary employers, who by valuing and supporting their employees’ military service, enhance the strength, readiness, and diversity of our National Guard and Reserve forces.” Minnesota National Guard Army Lt. Col. Dan O’Meara nominated the company for their support of his family during his most recent deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Middle East. (Minnesota National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Ben Houtkooper) 
Community members, leaders, members of the Minnesota Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and Minnesota National Guard gather August 18, 2021 in Willmar, Minnesota to celebrate Minnesota’s Marcus Construction for receiving the Secretary of Defense’s Employer Support Freedom Award for its outstanding support shown as an employer of members of the National Guard. This award was one of only 15 given to employers across the 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia in 2021. “I am proud to salute the outstanding employers who have earned the distinction of being named Freedom Award recipients as we mark the 25th year of this highly coveted recognition,” said Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III. “The men and women of the National Guard and Reserve make significant contributions to our communities and our national security through their civilian and military careers. We owe a debt of gratitude to these exemplary employers, who by valuing and supporting their employees’ military service, enhance the strength, readiness, and diversity of our National Guard and Reserve forces.” Minnesota National Guard Army Lt. Col. Dan O’Meara nominated the company for their support of his family during his most recent deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Middle East. (Minnesota National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Ben Houtkooper)
Retired Air Force Colonel Tom Simonet, who serves as the chair of Minnesota Committee of ESGR, spoke to the versatility of Guard and Reserve Servicemembers.
“These Citizen-Soldiers are our neighbors, friends and family. They are constantly being called to protect our freedoms,” said Simonet. “No longer is the citizen Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airmen or Coast Guard doing the simple two days a month, two weeks a year.”
Marcus Construction was nominated for the award by Army Lt. Col. Daniel O’Meara, a safety compliance officer with the company. O’Meara recently returned from a deployed to the Middle East where he served as the commander of the Minnesota National Guard’s 834th Aviation Support Battalion.
Simonet noted the company’s commitment to their employee, “The road Marcus Construction traveled showcased the extent and willingness of an organization to support their Guard member Lt. Col. Dan O’Meara.”
As a battalion commander, O’Meara’s military responsibilities went far beyond the scope of weekend drills and 14 days of annual training. Fortunately his civilian supervisor Ross Marcus understood those obligations and accommodated O’Meara’s hectic schedule.
Marcus Construction’s commitment to O’Meara only got stronger while he was deployed.
“Fellow employees and senior company leaders contacted both my wife and I on a regular basis to offer help with house maintenance, yard work, or general emotional support,” he said.
The COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 placed another level of stress on the O’Meara family. Again his friends at Marcus recognized it and sprang into action. In April of 2020 his co-worker Sara Goebel stopped by the O’Meara residence with gifts for the kids and to lend emotional support for his wife.
“The reason for it all, it was my birthday and Ross and Sara wanted my family to have a fun day despite the stress associated with my absence or the pandemic.”
O’Meara recognized that a lot would be made about him during the Freedom Award selection process and he kept things in perspective.
“I have received a lot of attention throughout the award process, yet this award is not about me, I simply just put it all in an email and hit send,” said O’Meara. “It is really about Marcus Construction.”
