The Daily Herald reports that Joshua Holt called the award a great honor and urged the attendees at the Saturday event to find happiness in every situation. Holt was joined by his wife, Thamara Caleno, of Venezuela.
The couple was released on May 26 after months of back-channel talks between U.S. politicians and close allies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Holt traveled to Venezuela in June 2016 to marry Caleno but was instead jailed on weapons charges he and his family said were bogus. His wife was arrested in the same sweep.