Siouxland Freedom Ball

Description

This year marks the 6th Annual Freedom Ball, and our theme is Courage on the Homefront – Remembering Gold Star Families. In line with this, we are proud to welcome keynote speaker, Debbie Lee, the mother of Marc Alan Lee. Marc was the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq in 2006. Upon the death of her son, Debbie chose to carry out his mission of courage and sought to impact the lives of others through the founding of America’s Mighty Warriors.  Their mission is to provide programs that honor and support our troops, veterans and Gold Star families by providing healing, hope and respite. Debbie made history as the first Gold Star Mother to enter the combat zone and visit the city where her son Marc died. Her words of loss, courage, and hope continue to impact audiences across the country and serve as a reminder of the sacrifice we face on the home front.
Proceeds from our 2026 event will support a new exhibit at Siouxland Freedom Park honoring those who have served and continue to serve in the Global War on Terror. Beginning with Desert Storm and continuing through present-day, this one-of-a-kind exhibit will recognize not only those lost on the battlefield, but those who continue to suffer the aftermath of war due to PTSD. The project will be completed over several phases to ensure the completeness of the depiction and impact of the messaging.