While the streets aren’t lined with people to watch like the Grand Parade or sit at LaVell Edwards Stadium and wait for the awards ceremony, there is one major America’s Freedom Festival event that often goes unnoticed.
The Freedom Awards Gala, which takes place on Thursday this year, has been honoring those who have made a difference around the world for four decades.
In the early days, when the Freedom Awards were first presented, winners were flown in from all over the world for the occasion. These included freedom fighters and defectors from the Soviet Union to bold leaders like Teddy Kollek, the former mayor of Jerusalem.
Over time, the Freedom Awards also recognized the great humanitarian ministries, religious leaders, and others who honor freedom in various ways.
This year, Chairwoman Vicki Garbutt, who also serves as Festival President 2021, Beth Black and her committee brought together another evening to honor patriots, good entertainment and food.
The gala will take place at the Utah Valley Convention Center in downtown Provo. It’s a formal evening that brings together the talents of Jenny Oaks Baker and her family, as well as the “piano man” John Sargeant.
The Freedom Awards 2021 will be given to seven people, five of whom come from a family.
Puro sisters
These five sisters, who grew up in St. George and Kanab, are not only talented, but they have used their talents to support their country.
All five are currently serving in the military, with excellent careers in the Army, Air Force, and Navy.
The five women are Tiara, Tambra, Tyva and the twins Ty’lene and Taryn.
“I don’t think either of us would have thought we’d serve in the military,” said Tiara, the eldest sister. “Our parents raised us to know our strengths and always do our best, tell the truth, be courageous and do things that scare us.”
Her father, Steve Puro, calls her “Papa Patrol”. The Gala Committee asked him what it was like to have five daughters in military service. He said, “This is the scariest thing you’ll ever be proud of.”
Leonard Bagalwa
If fear is one of the things you will ever be proud of, then Leonard Bagalwa is perhaps one of the proudest people you will ever meet.
Bagalwa grew up during the violent conflict in the Republic of the Congo. As a child, he was kidnapped and drafted into the military.
His journey was long and often frightening, but always hopeful. Now this refugee child has founded the Utah Valley Refugee Foundation.
His mother hid from the rebels in the African bush. His childhood was marked by contrasts: community and war, social friendships in the midst of desperate famine, according to his biography.
Hoping to find peace, he found neither. With his two brothers freshly killed by rebels, his mother knew that Leonard’s escape from his kidnappers would mean certain death if he stayed home.
According to his story, Balgawa’s mother marched to the nearest Catholic Church for temporary refuge, but from there he was at the mercy of many he would meet on his long journey.
He spent years in refugee camps until he ended up in Salt Lake City. With no friends and desperate, he came to Provo because he said he had sensed the ghost telling him to ask for help.
He happened to meet a couple in a library parking lot and asked them for help. They became friends, and the rest of the story is hope, fulfillment, and prepayment.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Fulfillment is exactly what the life of President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, embodies.
During his decades of study as a Supreme Court clerk, attorney, President of Brigham Young University, judge, and judge on the Utah Supreme Court, Oaks spent hours rehearsing, learning, and pondering the meaning of the U.S. Constitution.
He is Provo’s boy, although many older residents here had his mother Stella as a teacher. Provo is at home. He even met his eternal mate June Dixon at BYU and even told her that one day he would be president of the university.
“With laser focus, Oaks has campaigned for traditional American values of God, family, freedom and home in his private and professional life – including his studies and his support for the US Constitution,” Garbutt said in a gala report.
“He was in the right place at the right time,” added Garbutt. One of these times is at the 2021 gala, where he will be honored with a Freedom Award.
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