Courtesy Provo City

This year’s Central Bank Freedom Festival Pin recognizes the sacrifices made by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic with the theme “Heroes Among Us.”

The 11th Freedom Festival Pin was unveiled on Tuesday when Jim Evans, the Freedom Festival executive director, and Bill Freeze, the freedom pin chair, presented the pin to Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi.

“The courage and sacrifices of doctors, nurses, and medical technicians will forever be remembered as the history of this terrible disease is recorded,” Freeze said in a press release. “They never gave up on helping their patients and their efforts saved millions of lives worldwide. We can never thank them enough!”

The World Health Organization has estimated that between 80,000 and 180,000 healthcare workers could have died from COVID-19 between January 2020 and May 2021. This year’s Freedom Festival Pin was designed to honor their service to their communities and their sacrifice.

Although Utah has seen a significant decrease in confirmed COVID cases since the beginning of the year, the virus is still circulating worldwide.

Courtesy Bill Freeze

“These great people are still serving us today as COVID cases still continue,” Kaufusi stated in a press release.

Evans expressed excitement about the public turnout for Freedom Festival events, along with optimism for those still to come throughout the summer — specifically the Stadium of Fire, which will feature musicians Tim McGraw and Marie Osmond and take place July 2 at LaVell Edwards Stadium, and the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, which will be held on Friday at the Brigham Young University Hinckley Center.

“We have had record turnouts for our National Day of Prayer, Hope of America Children’s concerts, and our Veteran’s Day program,” Evans said in a press release. “Stadium of Fire is almost sold out! We are excited for our Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at BYU this coming Friday and we are pleased once again to kick off our Freedom Pin promotion by pinning Mayor Michelle Kaufusi.”

The 2022 pin was designed by Robinson Brothers Fine Jewelry located in Provo and comes in red, white and blue. Freedom pins are available at Central Bank locations and the Freedom Festival office while supplies last. New Freedom Festival pins have been produced annually over 11 years with previous designs recognizing the U.S. military, Provo Temple and more.

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