After being nominated by two employees who served on active duty during Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Operation Noble Eagle in Germany, Georgia Power was recently honored with a Freedom Team Salute from the U. S. Army Reserve Command.

Mike Garrett, Georgia Power president and CEO, attended a special “Twilight Tattoo” ceremony along with U. S. Army reservists SFC Marcus Gould and Spec. Philip Rogers to receive recognition of the company’s support of citizen soldiers.

Gould is a senior field service representative for Georgia Power and has been with the company since 1998. He is a 16-year member of the Army with many active duty and reserve assignments. He served in Iraq from December 2003 until February of this year and is currently attached to the 2nd Battalion 345th Regiment at Ft. Jackson, S.C.

Rogers is a mechanic with Georgia Power fleet services in Forest Park and has been with the company since 1999. He enlisted in the reserves in 2000 and served on active duty in Germany from November 2000 until June 2002. He is currently attached to the 642nd Area Support Group, 81st Regional Readiness Command.

Both soldiers cited Georgia Power’s policy of paying the difference between military pay and their civilian pay as playing a key role in making them feel supported while serving on active duty. They also said that co-workers wrote letters, sent e-mails and celebrated their return and that their managers were supportive of their service.

Gould noted, “Whether I was lacing my shoes for work or lacing my boots for duty, I was always shown that I had support, genuine concern and pride from my employers that wherever I was, they were there as well.”

“I am proud of these soldiers, and I believe that they carry on the Georgia Power tradition of ‘Being a Citizen Wherever We Serve,’” Garrett said, evoking a longtime company motto. “It means a great deal to our company to be thought of as one of the best employers in the country for supporting the troops, especially those that are our employees. This honor was earned by the 8,700 co-workers who value each other, their service to our communities and our country, and I gladly accept it on their behalf.”

Gen. Richard Cody, Vice Chief of Staff Army, said the Freedom Team Salute is a way to recognize those that have supported Soldiers during their military service. “Loyalty is one of the Army’s core values. Our Soldiers promise to be faithful to the U. S. Constitution, the Army and their fellow soldiers,” Cody said. “Freedom Team Salute is a great way for soldiers to honor families and employers who share this value and demonstrate their loyalty to our troops.”