OREANDA-NEWS. July 23, 2015. Five men and women representing each branch of the U.S. military were honored Tuesday night for their exemplary service during the 2015 Military Times Service Member of the Year Awards.

The 15th annual event was held in Washington, D.C., with members of Congress and senior Pentagon officials in attendance. General Motors has been a corporate sponsor of the event for more than 10 years.

“These five men and women represent the character, commitment and values of the U.S. military,” said GM Chief Diversity Officer Ken Barrett, a retired Navy captain.

The award winners are:

  • Staff Sgt. Joseph Fontenot, U.S. Army, Fort Campbell, Ky.
  • Staff Sgt. Zachary Rubart, U.S. Marines, Washington, D.C.
  • Hospital Corpsman Third Class Sara Freeman, U.S. Navy, Norfolk, Va.
  • Senior Airman Joseph Moreland, U.S. Air Force, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
  • Aviation Maintenance Technician Second Class Lee Biladeau, U.S. Coast Guard, Traverse City, Mich.

Since 2000, Military Times has singled out five "Everyday Heroes" – service members who demonstrate pride, dedication and courage beyond what is expected. All five branches of the military – Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard – are represented.

In addition to the awards gala, winners are recognized online, in the Military Times newspapers and at special events in and around Washington.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com

About GM’s Military Support: For more than 100 years, GM has proudly provided ongoing support to members of the U.S. military and their families. Through the support of key hiring and training initiatives – including Hiring Our Heroes, Shifting Gears and more – GM remains a committed partner as many veterans return to the civilian workforce. To learn more, visit GMMilitaryDiscount.com.