On September 7th, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library celebrated its 21st annual Liberty Gala at the Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago. The theme of this year’s gala was Legacy in Motion.
We celebrated the courageous stories of the Citizen Soldier Award recipients: Roger C. Schultz, LTG, USA-Ret., Captain F. Dawn Halfaker, USA (Retired), William McNulty.
Thank you to all the guests who attended this special event.
The Citizen Soldier Award, established in 2020, stands to honor a person who exemplifies the traditions of the citizen soldier set by George Washington; a person who served the nation as a leader in war and in peace, for the betterment of the common good. The late Senator Bob Dole and RADM Richard W. Schneider were past recipients of the Citizen Soldier Award.
Michael A. McFaul served as Ambassador of the United States of America to the Russian Federation from January, 2012, to February, 2014. Prior to becoming Ambassador, he served for three years as the special assistant to the President and senior director for Russia and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council.
Photos by Tone Stockenstrom Photo Inc
Army National Guard and Active Duty Army, Lieutenant General. 40+ years of service in the U.S. Army. Combat Infantry Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, Army Distinguished Service Star, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars, Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold hourglass device, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with gold and silver star, Vietnam Campaign Medal.
As a military leader in the United States Army, Halfaker held several leadership positions and deployed to Iraq with the 293rd Military Police Company, 3rd Infantry Division. There, she earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for her service.
William “Will” McNulty joined the Marines upon graduation from college and has never stopped serving. His courage and leadership are evident as he runs into the face of disaster, rather than away from it. Having built seven international disaster response teams/charities with headquarters in six countries, he is well-versed in disaster relief. He is currently the Head of Mission for White Stork, a critical aid charity founded in Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion. He sees a need, gets others on board, and responds.
