On April 30, 1999, U.S. Senator John McCain introduced Senate Resolution 33 to designate May as “National Military Appreciation Month.” It passed by way of a unanimous vote, and every year since, Americans celebrate the entire month of May as an opportunity to honor past and present military members and their families.

Throughout the year, Atmos Energy is proud to show respect and gratitude to active-duty service members, veterans, and their families through our commitment to Fueling Safe and Thriving Communities. Among the many ways this is put into practice, in 2022 we were one of the first corporate sponsors of Operation Commissary – a new initiative of Operation Stand Down Tennessee – which works to address food insecurity among veterans in Middle Tennessee. Those who served our country in uniform are twice as likely to become food insecure because they are less inclined to seek assistance, and Operation Commissary’s innovative model provides non-perishable food along with instructions to receive additional grocery assistance.

Another example occurred last month, when Atmos Energy hosted the American Gas Association (AGA) Service Project to kick off an industry event in Grapevine, Texas. Dozens of conference attendees jumped at the chance to volunteer by assembling more than 600 care packages for service members passing through DFW Airport’s USO facility and those serving aboard the USS Fort Worth. Volunteers also wrote notes of gratitude and encouragement to accompany each care package, and JR Labbe, president of the USS Fort Worth Support Committee, spoke to the group about the importance of year-round support for members of the military and their families.

We also partner with local veteran and military organizations and nonprofits that connect job-seeking veterans, active-duty military, and their spouses to Atmos Energy career opportunities. The veterans and active-duty military members on our team impact all areas of the company, contributing their leadership, rigorous work ethic, talents, backgrounds, and experiences to help us be the safest provider of natural gas services. Atmos Energy veterans are executives, engineers, service technicians, construction crew leads, accountants, customer service agents, marketing associates, public affairs managers, human resources team members, instructional technology experts, workforce development creators, security specialists, and operational support team members. In addition, Atmos Energy team members serve as mentors in local veteran and military mentorship programs to support their transition to the civilian workforce, provide coaching on vital job-search techniques, and advise on military-to-civilian cultural differences.

During this Military Appreciation Month and every other day of the year, please join us in thanking the men and women who answered the call to serve on our behalf. May these heroes be an inspiration for us all to continue giving back in our communities and serving others.