The law firm of Folkestad Fazekas Barrick & Patoile, P.C. has been nominated for the Secretary of Defense’s 2010 Freedom Award.

This Award is the highest recognition given by the Department of Defense to publicly recognize employers who provide support to their National Guard and Reserve employees. Serving in the National Guard and Reserve presents unique challenges. Unlike their Active Duty counterparts, members of the Army and Air National Guard and Reserves serve their nation part-time and work for civilian employers full-time. As America continues to depend upon her citizen warriors to protect Main Street USA, assist with national disasters, or defend the U.S. in faraway places like Afghanistan and Iraq, Employers Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) supports these civilian employers and their Guard and Reserve employees. The estimated number of employers with members of the Guard and Reserve is 125,000. The law firm was nominated by Colonel Aaron W. Barrick, its chief civil litigator and managing director. Colonel Barrick is the State Judge Advocate for Colorado, serving as the senior legal advisor to the Adjutant General of the State and supervising all legal personnel of the Army and Air Guard. The Freedom Award is presented annually to the nation’s 15 most supportive employers. Folkestad Fazekas Barrick & Patoile, P.C. was recognized as a nominee at the annual awards banquet for ESGR recently.