Blue Sky Satellite, Johnson County Med Act and Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, all Kansas employers, have been selected as semi-finalists for the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Only members of the National Guard and Reserve or family members are eligible to nominate their employers for the award, which is the U.S. government’s highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.

The Kansas employers are among 131 semi-finalists from across the nation, selected from more than 3,200 nominations. A national review board will select 35 finalists for the award. A national selection board will then select the award’s 15 recipients. The Department of Defense will announce the 2009 finalists in June and the award recipients in July.

The awards will be presented Sept. 17 in a ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Center, in Washington, D.C.