Carmeuse Lime employee Marcus Green, 23, left for a yearlong tour of duty with the Army in Iraq on July 12.

His employers are making sure he’ll have a job to return to as soon as he’s back.

For that, Marcus nominated Carmeuse Lime for the Patriot Award, given to companies that go above and beyond to support employees in the military.

Marvin Copes, employer outreach director for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, said such companies are highly appreciated by the military and Department of Defense. Copes presented Carmeuse Lime with the award Friday.

“We appreciate tremendously companies working with individuals,” Copes said. “I want to thank you all for working with Marcus, because it means a lot not to worry when you’re gone.”

Carmeuse Lime area operations manager Bob Picou said it was easy to support Marcus, a hard-working employee.

“He was a model employee. He would do anything for anybody sitting here,” Picou said. “We really want to be sure the employees working for us feel comfortable working for us.”

If Marcus’ military salary is lower than his salary at Carmeuse Lime, the company will make up the difference. The company also provides supplemental benefits and compensation based on how long the employee is gone.

Human resources manager Dawn Haden said Marcus is one of two employees serving in the military.

Marcus’ grandfather, Sylvester, has been an employee of Carmeuse Lime for 34 years. He said Marcus had struggled to make ends meet until he got the job with Carmeuse Lime.

“When he first came here, he was working two jobs. You just couldn’t find a better place to work,” Sylvester said.