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General Edward J. Bronars Defender of Freedom Award
 Annually, Freedom Alliance presents the Edward J. Bronars Defender of Freedom Award to an outstanding individual who, in the face of adversity, exemplifies faith, courage and fidelity to the Constitution and the principles of freedom.
The award is named in honor of LtGen Edward J. Bronars, a United States Marine who served as the first Chairman of Freedom Alliance. He was a U.S. Naval Academy graduate whose 32-year career with the Marine Corps included distinguished service in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. His awards include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” for Valor.
After retiring from the military, General Bronars continued to serve his country as President of the Navy Relief Society and Executive Director of the Association of Military Schools and Colleges. In 1990, Oliver North asked his former Division Commander to serve as Chairman of the newly-formed Freedom Alliance, which he did until our Lord called him home on September 6, 1996. General Bronars was a great leader, a steadfast patriot and an honored war hero.
2008 Award Recipient
First Lieutenant Andrew Kinard, USMC  1stLt Andrew Kinard is a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina and a 2005 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. In August, 2006, he deployed to Iraq with Alpha Company, Second Light Armored reconnaissance Battalion out of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Six weeks into his deployment, Kinard was severely injured resulting in the loss of both of his legs. He spent the next four months undergoing 60 surgical procedures to restore his normal body functions and the next year recuperating at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Remarkably, 1stLt Kinard is today still serving his country as an active duty Marine. Read More
Past Recipients
2007 The Honorable John R. Bolton
 Freedom Alliance has awarded the 14th Annual Defender of Freedom Award to Ambassador John R. Bolton at the Defender of Freedom Award Dinner on November 29 in Arlington , Virginia. The award is named in honor of LtGen Edward J. Bronars, a United States Marine who served as the first Chairman of Freedom Alliance. He was a U.S. Naval Academy graduate whose 32-year career with the Marine Corps included distinguished service in two wars.
Ambassador Bolton is a distinguished diplomat who served as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations from August 1, 2005 to December 9, 2006 and as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security from May, 2001 to May, 2005.
The award was presented by Freedom Alliance Founder and Honorary Chairman LtCol Oliver North, who described Ambassador Bolton as “an example of one who embodies the qualities of courage, fidelity, and faith in the face of adversity.” Read More
2006 New York City Firefighter Stephen Siller
 LtCol Oliver North awarded the 2006 Defender of Freedom Award posthumously to New York City Fire Fighter Stephen Siller, “In recognition of his courage and sacrifice on September 11, 2001. Stephen’s heroism demonstrated his fidelity to the principles of freedom and the United States of America.” Stephen’s brother, Frank Siller, who is Chairman of the FDNY “Let Us Do Good” Children’s Foundation, accepted the award on his brother’s behalf. Read More
2005 General Tommy Franks, United States Army, Retired
 This four-star General and American hero was awarded the Defender of Freedom Award for his “outstanding leadership in the Global War on Terror and lifetime of dedicated service to the United States of America.” General Franks, who was assigned the Commander-in-Chief of United States Central Command in June 2000, culminated a four-decade military career by leading American and Coalition troops in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The General’s awards include five Distinguished Service Medals, four Legion of Merit, four Bronze Stars, and three Purple Hearts. President George W. Bush awarded him the Nation’s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom on December 14, 2004.
2004 Stephen Toboz, United States Navy, Retired
Another American hero in the War on Terror, Stephen Toboz enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1991 and became a member of one the most elite Special Forces units, a Navy SEAL. He is honored for his “extraordinary heroism” and "immeasurable courage” in combat.
Stephen was critically injured while rescuing one of his fallen SEALs during Operation Anaconda in the mountains of Afghanistan. He and his fellow warriors engaged in a twelve-hour firefight in below-freezing temperatures to recover their comrade. Toboz, whose leg was amputated, was fitted with a prosthesis and later returned to his unit in Afghanistan. He was awarded the Silver Star, retired from active duty, and now works with Naval Special Warfare as a civilian sniper instructor.
2003 Captain Sean Michael Basco, United States Marine Corps
 Honored for “exceptional bravery in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom,” Basco was with the Marines who first entered Saddam Hussein's palace in Baghdad . He was wounded and eventually had to be air-lifted out—but refused to leave until the battle was won. He received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for valor. During the battle, Sean met LtCol Oliver North, who arrived on a medevac helicopter while covering the war for FOX News. Today, Major Basco flies the Marine Corps’ premier fighter, the F/A-18 Hornet.
2002 Commander Lloyd “Pete” Bucher, United States Navy
 A graduate of Boy’s Town and the University of Nebraska, Pete Bucher served over 27 years in the U.S. Navy. Pete Bucher was the commander of the USS Pueblo, which was illegally seized in international waters in 1968 by the North Koreans. Commander Bucher and his crew were held as POW's for 11 months and starved and brutally tortured by their captors. They were released two days before Christmas, some of them crippled or nearly blind because of malnourishment. Because of his actions, Commander Bucher saved the lives of his crew, who were finally recognized for their sacrifice when the U.S. government granted Prisoner of War medals to them over 20 years later in 1989.
The Defender of Freedom Award honors Commander Bucher for “remaining true to his country while being tortured as a POW in North Korea.” Pete Bucher retired from the U.S. Navy in 1973 and passed away in 2004.
2002 Posthumously to: Johnny “Mike” Spann, Captain, United States Marine Corps and Central Intelligence Agency Officer. Presented to his wife, Shannon Spann.
 After leaving the Marine Corps in 1999, Mike joined the CIA and went served in the agency's paramilitary wing, the Special Activities Division , which is equipped to arm and train local forces and to conduct covert assaults. After 9/11,Mike volunteered to go to Afghanistan and search for Osama bin Laden.
In November, 2001, Mike Spann was killed by the Taliban during a prison uprising in Afghanistan, becoming the first American casualty of the War on Terror. One of the prisoners involved in the rebellion was John Walker Lindh, the traitorous American who converted to Islam and took up the Taliban cause.
Mike Spann was 32 years old at the time and left behind, his widow, Shannon Span, and three young children, one infant son and two young daughters. Today, this American hero rests in Arlington National Cemetery.
2001 Mr. Sean Hannity
 Freedom Alliance recognized this “Great American,” as he is now affectionately called by millions of fans, as a remarkably talented, dedicated, articulate and hard-hitting advocate of conservative issues and values.
Sean received the award “for his vigilant defense of freedom and limited government” which is the theme of his “Sean Hannity Show” now carried on over 500 radio stations, reaching over 12.5 million people. Today the "Hannity and Colmes” show on the FOX News Channel is one of the most successful cable news shows broadcasted in America.
2000 Senator Jesse Helms
 Senator Jesse Helms, who was honored for a “ lifetime of dedicated service to America and her national security,” served for thirty years in the U.S. Senate before retiring in 2002. He is considered one of the most influential leaders in America who made freedom’s cause a priority.
As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he was one of the most powerful men on Capitol Hill, known as a fierce foe of Communism, the United Nations and Cuban leader Fidel Castro. He was a master of the complicated Senate rules and won many legislative battles because he out-maneuvered his opponents.
1999 Congressman Bob Barr
 Bob Barr, represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 where he served as Vice-Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, and as senior member of the Judiciary Committee, received the Defender of Freedom Award for his “dedication to the United States Constitution and the defense of American sovereignty.” Bob Barr led congressional fact-finding missions to numerous countries, investigating terrorism, international crime and drug trafficking.
1998 General Charles C. Krulak, United States Marine Corps Commandant, (1995-1999)
 General Krulak received the Defender of Freedom Award “for a lifetime dedicated service in the U.S. Marine Corps.” General Krulak commanded a platoon and two rifle companies during two tours of duty in Vietnam and served in the same battalion with North. Prior to becoming Commandant, he served 35 years in the U.S. Marines Corps in numerous command positions including Deputy Director of the White House Military Office and commander of Marine Forces Pacific. He also served in the Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm.
His many awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Combat "V" and two Gold Stars, the Purple Heart with gold star, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.
1997 Mr. Ward Connerly
 As a member of the University of California Board of Regents, Ward Connerly gained prominence in 1995 when he led a movement that resulted in the University’s Board of Regents voting to end the University’s race-based admissions system. Mr. Connerly, whose award honors him for “passionately defending our founding principle that all men are created equal,” wrote his autobiography, “ Creating Equal: My Fight Against Race Preferences ,” and is founder and chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute.
1996 Captain Scott F. O’Grady, United States Air Force
Air Force fighter pilot Scott O’Grady was shot down when his F-16 took a direct hit from a Soviet-made anti-aircraft missile over Bosnia in 1995 while enforcing the NATO no-fly zone. His award honors him for “displaying courage and fortitude while trapped behind enemy lines.” Captain O’Grady struggled to survive in hostile enemy territory of war-torn Bosnia for six days until he was rescued by United States Marines. The movie “Behind Enemy Lines” is loosely based on his spiritual tale of courage, faith and patriotism. Captain O’Grady is also the author of The New York Times bestseller, “ Return With Honor” and “ Basher Five-Two ,” a children’s edition of his story.
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Defender of Freedom 
