Josh Holt receives Freedom Award in Provo
Thamara Holt looks to her husband, Joshua, both Freedom Award recipients, before speaking and accepting their awards during the Freedom Awards Gala held Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Jim Evans, president of America's Freedom Festival, holds up the Freedom Award during the Freedom Awards Gala held Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Bruce Lindsay, formerly of KSL TV, congratulates Freedom Award recipient Hyrum Grant Keeler during the Freedom Awards Gala held Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Freedom Award recipient Bun Yom thanks the crowd as they applaud during the Freedom Awards Gala held Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Gentri performs during the Freedom Awards Gala held Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Freedom Award recipient Joshua Holt speak during the Freedom Awards Gala held Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Freedom Award recipient Bun Yom speaks during the Freedom Awards Gala held Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Jim Evans, president of America's Freedom Festival, speaks during the Freedom Awards Gala held Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Roxanne Shallenberger, of Orem, watches a video presentation of one of the Freedom Award recipients during the Freedom Awards Gala held Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Utah County Commissioner Bill Lee claps for a speaker during the Freedom Awards Gala held Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Josh Holt was at the Department of Motor Vehicles when a man approached him with an apology. The man had been following Holt’s story, he explained, and he was convinced Holt was a goner.
“I thought I was a goner too, so don’t worry about it,” Holt replied.
Saturday would have marked the second-year anniversary of when Holt and his wife, Thamara, were arrested and imprisoned in Venezuela on claims of espionage, terrorism and unlawful possession of weapons.
Two years ago their apartment was stormed, they were forced against a wall and Thamara had begged Josh not to forget her.
They were freed a month ago after efforts from local and national government leaders. On Saturday, the married couple were honored at the America’s Freedom Festival at Provo Freedom Awards Gala.
While that day two years ago is what Holt calls the worst day of his life, Saturday he called the award a great honor.
He urged those in attendance to make themselves happy no matter their situation.
“True happiness comes from what you make of it,” Holt said.
The Holts, along with Hyrum Grant Keeler, Bun Yom, and Jake and Vivian Kim received Freedom Awards Saturday in Provo.
Keeler, a pilot and prisoner of war in World War II, recounted in a video his story. Keeler said he loved flying because it gave him a sense of freedom.
In a video response, he said he was humbled beyond his wildest understanding by the award, which was followed by the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” to the recent 100-year-old.
Yom, who survived the Cambodian Killing Fields at the age of 15 before becoming a freedom fighter, reuniting with his family and immigrating to the United States, urged people to understand that everyone is human.
His journey included stepping on a mine and rescuing others from labor camps. But, he said, he’s still alive.
“I am so lucky to be here in America,” Yom said. “You are so lucky to be American. Do not ever forget that.”
The lights were dimmed and photography was prohibited while Jake and Vivian Kim accepted their awards. The two, whose faces were not shown in an introductory video, fear retribution for those they know who remain in North Korea.
The Kims escaped North Korea, became Christians and immigrated to the United States. In their video, they explained how they’d rather have died in the pursuit of freedom than continue living in North Korea.
Vivian addressed the crowd about walking by the dead and dying while going down the street in North Korea.
“I passed thinking it was a normal part of life,” Vivian said.
As Jake accepted his award, he said he was thinking of his father, who died in a labor camp and whose family was never able to bury his body.