Hundreds honor 4 men at gala to celebrate freedom

PROVO — Some 600 people gathered Friday night at a gala to celebrate extraordinary dedication to freedom.

The celebration is part of America's Freedom Festival at Provo — and one that goes straight to the heart of the Fourth of July festivities. At the gala, men and women are honored for selfless service toward the promotion of freedom throughout the world.

"This is an opportunity to really look at the people who have . . . made sacrifices," said Vicki Garbutt, who oversaw the gala. "The commitment to what they pursue is just incredible. I find their stories very inspiring."

Four men were honored this year. Pascal Moretti, Joseph Stobbe and Muhammad Yunus were honored in the Wilkinson Center Ballroom at Brigham Young University.

An award was also presented posthumously to the late U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith. It was accepted by Master Sgt. Timothy Campbell, one of Smith's former fellow soldiers.

Smith died for the cause of freedom while serving near Baghdad in April 2003.

His unit, 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, was attacked by a large enemy group while he was temporarily in command. His selflessly defended his soldiers with a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged personnel carrier.

When Smith was wounded, he had already saved the lives of more than 100 soldiers and prevented enemy forces from getting closer to an aid station.

In April, he was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously by President George W. Bush — the highest award for bravery and the first awarded for the conflict in Iraq.

"We will never forget his courage and dedication," Campbell said in an acceptance speech. "He was modest and generous and placed the lives of his soldiers above his own."

He is survived by his wife, Birgit, and two children.

But freedom is obtained through more than just guns, and professor Muhammad Yunus has used a different approach to increasing freedom in the world. As founder of the Grameen Bank, he has helped lead many of the poorest villagers in Bangladesh out of poverty, empowering them with a sense of self-sufficiency.