During the Memorial Day holiday, many across the country will be remembering those who have given their lives in service of our country. Sodexo employees will be among those honoring that service and the sacrifices made. One constant across the very large population of military veterans is the commitment to serving: service to those in their charge, service to the unit in which they served, and ultimately service to the nation through duty and sacrifice. With Spirit of Service as one of our core values, Sodexo has proven to be an exceptional employer for many veterans, military reserve and families of both veterans and those on active duty.

In the fall of 2009, Sodexo launched the employee network group HONOR (Honoring Our Nation's Finest with Opportunity and Respect). The mission of the HONOR Network Group is to provide support, guidance and resources to employees and families connected to the military by offering development opportunities, providing a forum to recognize and celebrate contributions made to our country, and establishing partnerships with community groups that support veterans, active duty, National Guard and military reserve. Whether employees have a connection to the military or if they are just looking for a new diversity experience, they are invited to participate.

HONOR has established a series of goals that include:

• To provide an inclusive environment for military and veteran employees that will lead to strategies toward recruitment, engagement and retention.
• To celebrate, share and learn about "the military experience."
• To leverage the military and veteran experience for individual growth and development, as well as increase productivity and growth for Sodexo.
• To help identify and promote the appropriate training of Sodexo employees and managers.
• To educate the Sodexo community on the issue of awareness and the value of embracing an inclusive culture as these issues relate to military veterans.
• To expand Sodexo’s involvement in the community related to providing education about and supporting military and veteran initiatives.
• To provide mentoring opportunities for Sodexo military and veteran employees.
• To provide support for the Armed Forces families in time of need.

HONOR will continue to build on Sodexo’s unwavering commitment to the success and professional development of employees who have served in the military. For more information on Sodexo’s military community, please see the online community at www.sodexohiresheroes.com. For additional information on all eight of Sodexo’s employee network groups, you can visit us here.