Celebrating Idaho's spirit of freedom

Every November since 2002, I have had the great opportunity to honor some remarkable Idaho veterans and volunteers for their outstanding service to our country and its veterans with the Spirit of Freedom: Idaho Veterans Service Award. The 24 veterans and volunteers recognized in 2025 with the Spirit of Freedom Award are yet another reminder of the Idahoans, many unrecognized, who ensure our country’s spirit of freedom is never dimmed.

At a time when the veterans community has faced high rates of suicide, the awardees include a patrol deputy who uses his experience as a veteran to connect with veterans in crisis and connect them with resources. He prioritizes his fellow veterans and engages within the community while on and off duty. Likewise, another veteran who received the award gives generously of her Saturdays to some of the most vulnerable veterans, as she assists in inpatient psychiatric care. She relates to them and demonstrates there is life beyond mental and general health struggles. Similarly, an awardee helps his fellow veterans navigate the process of receiving an MRI, as he helps ease anxiety, apprehension and fear of the confined MRI machine.

Some awardees have been volunteering for decades in support of veterans. One awardee, who lost his veteran father at the young age of six, started volunteering at the Warhawk Air Museum when he was only in the fourth grade and rode his bike to the museum to help out. He started out sweeping floors and giving tours and has since helped build the museum’s information technology systems. He credits the sense of belonging gained from his 23 years at the museum as influencing who he is today. Another awardee draws from her personal experience as a military spouse and daughter of a veteran to help veterans and their families navigate higher education, training certification and other opportunities. She knows firsthand the challenges of balancing family, career, deployments and transitions and wants to ensure military families do not have to navigate these challenges alone.

A list of the recipients of the 2025 Spirit of Freedom Award follows:

Veterans:

• Lanny R. Ames, Kimberly;

• Larry Auman, Idaho Falls;

• Jason Brown, Lewiston;

• Tammy Clement, Meridian;

• Richard Lee Falardeau, Lewiston;

• William (Billy) Lawson, Boise;

• Holly Leonard, Boise;

• Vic Markell, Kimberly;

• Carson Wesley Spear, Star;

• Gary Williams; Post Falls;

Volunteers:

• Eva Ackerman, Pocatello;

• Al Arnold, Idaho Falls;

• Mark A. Arnstam, Boise;

• Robert (Bob) L. Cook, Boise,

• Holly Harrison, Boise;

• Tim Hennessey, Boise;

• Cheri Honas, Pocatello;

• Amanda Knight, Boise;

• Lynn Leggat, Pocatello;

• Tiffany Sedorus, King Hill;

• Delores Silcott, Filer;

• Tony Speer, Caldwell;

• Teri Weissrock-Engler, Boise; and

• Gary Wiester, Post Falls.

Summaries of their service and the service of past Spirit of Freedom Award recipients are posted on my official website, www.crapo.senate.gov/about/spirit-of-freedom.

I thank the veterans organizations that nominate the awardees for taking the time to bring these good works to our attention. Nominating organizations include American Legion Posts 7, 56 and 76; Bannock County Veterans Services; Boise U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Department of Idaho Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); Idaho State Veterans Homes in Boise, Lewiston and Post Falls; Idaho Veterans Assistance League; Mission43; SEAL Future Foundation, Inc.; United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated Boise Base Submarine Veterans; VFW Post 2146; Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 972; and Warhawk Air Museum. If interested in submitting nominations for the 2026 Spirit of Freedom Service Award, please contact Courtney Lehosit in my Boise office, 208-334-1776.

The actions of Spirit of Freedom Awardees and the actions of Idahoans in our communities who are yet to be honored fan the spirit of freedom in our communities.

Mike Crapo represents the state of Idaho in the U.S. Senate. He can be reached at crapo.senate.gov.