Individuals honored at the Freedom Award Gala

PROVO — In a roadside bombing in Iraq, Marine Sgt. Merlin German experienced burns over 97 percent of his body. He was given a 3 percent chance of survival.

Every day for nine months he was told this might be the last day of his life, but he decided to fight through, stay strong and overcome.

German was one of four individuals honored at the Freedom Gala, an annual event of the America's Freedom Festival in Provo. On Thursday night, these individuals were honored for their contributions to the support and defense of family, freedom, God and country.

German died unexpectedly three years after his accident during a routine surgery. His mother, Yvonne, accepted the award on her son's behalf and his nurse from the burn unit hospital, Norma Guerra, spoke. Guerra said German inspired other burn victims to keep going despite their circumstances.

" 'Cannot' was not in his vocabulary," Guerra said. He was known as the "Miracle Man" by the hospital staff.

Other recipients included Neil K. Holbrook, one of the last surviving World War II frogman (later known as the Navy Seals). Holbrook teared up as he spoke of those who did not make it in the war.

"What all of those guys in the war were fighting about was the American dream," he said. "That dream is memorialized in a document called the Constitution of the United States, a document I love with all my heart. That's what these men died for."

Another recipient, Mona Kashani Heern, is a Salt Lake resident who was expelled in fifth grade from her school in Iran because of her Bahai faith. She spent several years in refugee camps and became a U.S. citizen four years ago. She is now a teacher in a middle school in West Jordan and lets her students know each day that freedom is precious.

The last recipient of the night was President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a World War II pilot and remembered praying as a child that if he could become a pilot fighter, he would serve God the rest of his life. Both desires were fulfilled, he said.

To open the event, all 800 people in attendance stood up in their tuxes and elegant gowns to say the Pledge of Allegiance with hands on hearts. American flags surrounded them in the Brigham Young University ballroom and each table was clad in red, white and blue decor.

Bruce Lindsay, KSL news anchor, was the master of ceremonies and said he was delighted to honor the award recipients "who have fought, whether with weapons or ideals, so courageously and sincerely."

Rob Hancock, a music professor at BYU, and his wife, Cheri, a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, entertained.