U.S. Chamber of Commerce
"Hiring Our Heroes" Awards
The Story
When the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched their inaugural "Hiring Our Heroes" initiative, they needed recognition pieces that would honor private sector organizations making extraordinary commitments to our nation's veterans and service members. This groundbreaking program celebrates companies that go beyond lip service to create meaningful employment opportunities for military veterans, active service members, and their spouses. With distinguished recipients including PepsiCo, CVS, Union Pacific, API Group, and RecruitMilitary, these weren't just corporate awards; they were tributes to organizations actively bridging the gap between military service and civilian career success.
The Design
Bennett Awards created a powerful sculpture featuring a realistic combat serviceman, capturing the dedication and vigilance that defines military service. The figure represents not just individual sacrifice, but the collective strength and readiness that veterans bring to the civilian workforce. The bronze sculpture embodies the courage, discipline, and leadership qualities that make military personnel such valuable employees, creating an immediate visual connection between service and the corporate commitment being recognized.
The Craftsmanship
Each sculpture was cast in bronze to achieve detailed reproduction of military gear, stance, and the determined expression that defines service members in the field. The bronze construction provides substantial weight and premium feel appropriate for honoring both military sacrifice and corporate commitment to veteran employment. Each piece received a golden brown patina that adds depth and warmth while creating a timeless appearance that honors military tradition. The sculptures are mounted on hand-crafted personalized wood bases with engraved plates featuring the U.S. Chamber logos, award categories, recipient names, and presentation dates.
The Impact
These inaugural awards established a new standard for recognizing corporate America's commitment to veteran employment, with five categories spanning overall military hiring, small businesses, women veterans and military spouses, post-9/11 veterans, and "Wounded Warriors" programs. The powerful military figure creates immediate emotional connection among recipients and ceremony attendees, reinforcing the human stories behind employment statistics while honoring both the sacrifice of service members and the vision of companies who recognize their value. Each award serves as a permanent reminder of the recipient organization's commitment to supporting those who served, inspiring continued leadership in veteran hiring while building bridges between military service and corporate success across America's business community.