Edina a Finalist for Department of Defense Award | News

The City of Edina is in the running for a Department of Defense honor for its work to support veterans.

The city is a finalist for the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The award recognizes organizations that not only adhere to the employment and reemployment rights of Guard and Reserve members, but also create opportunities to support these individuals and their families.

The City of Edina employs more than 20 veterans, six of whom are in the police department, according to Communications Director Jennifer Bennerotte. Some employees' service dates go back to the Vietnam War.

Edina's Guard and Reserve employees have been deployed to assist with disasters including the I-35W bridge collapse, the 2009 North Dakota floods, and the gulf oil spill in 2010.

The city is among 30 award finalists chosen from more than 3,200 nominations. A national selection board is expected to chose 15 finalists to receive the award early this summer, with a presentation scheduled for September in Washington, D.C.

According to the city, previous award recipients have met with the President and Vice President, as well as the Secretary of Defense.