September 6, 2018 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Phil Wright at pwright@chaplainalliance.orgor (612) 250-2072, or Craig Muehler at (314) 996-1346
House Armed Services Subcommittee chairwoman
receives Chaplain Alliance Torchbearer Award
WASHINGTON— On Wednesday, Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty honored Representative Vicky Hartzler, R-M.O., chairwoman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Armed Services, with the Torchbearer Award for her work in protecting the religious liberties of all military personnel. Hartzler is also chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Values Action Team, a group of lawmakers dedicated to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
“Representative Hartzler continues to be a strong advocate for religious liberty, especially the
liberty of those serving in uniform,” said Chaplain (Col.) Phil Wright, USA (Retired), executive
director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “She has strongly defended the military’s
vocal support for our first freedoms and decisively taken action when the religious liberty of
service personnel has been threatened. No one in our armed forces should be denied the ability
to exercise the very freedoms they have volunteered to defend, even with their life.
Representative Hartzler’s commitment not only benefits our chaplains and our armed forces, but
their families, communities, and the entire country.”
Other advocates for religious liberty offered special presentations honoring Hartzler for her
exemplary leadership: Michael Berry, Director of Military Affairs, First Liberty Institute; Emilie
Kao, Director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion & Civil Society; and Senator Roy Blunt, R-M.O., a co-chair of the Senate Values Action Team.
Chaplain Alliance awards the Torchbearer Award to individuals who have helped carry high the
torch of religious liberty for all service members. Prior recipients of the Torchbearer Award are
former Rep. Howard, “Buck” McKeon, R-C.A., who was chairman of the House Armed Services
Committee, Rep. John Fleming, R-L.A., and Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-V.A.
Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty is an organization of chaplain endorsers, the religious faith groups that provide chaplains for the U.S. military, and other agencies needing chaplains. The endorsers in the Chaplain Alliance collectively endorse more than two-thirds of the 5,500 military chaplains serving in the Armed Forces.
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