The Grateful Nation Project on “Our American Stories” podcast: Captain Daniel Nimham

Listen online to Our American Stories (October 25, 2024): The Native American Who Fought Alongside George Washington—Daniel Nimham (8 minutes), or on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Spotify

Hosted by Lee Habeeb, the Our American Stories podcast has invited The Grateful Nation Project to contribute recordings of our Heroes’ biographies! OAS is a highly-regarded and popular podcast—also heard on 400+ affiliate radio stations—whose purpose is “Telling the Story of America to Americans.”

This episode tells the story of Daniel Nimham (Hero 187, Card Pack 16), a diplomat, a warrior, and the last sachem (leader) of the Wappinger tribe in New York’s Hudson Valley. He fought alongside Gen. George Washington, joining the cause for freedom.

The Grateful Nation Project on “Our American Stories” podcast: Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge

Listen online to Our American Stories (September 25, 2024): The Story of The First Man To Die In an Airplane Crash (11 minutes), or on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Spotify

Hosted by Lee Habeeb, the Our American Stories podcast has invited The Grateful Nation Project to contribute recordings of our Heroes’ biographies! OAS is a highly-regarded and popular podcast—also heard on 400+ affiliate radio stations—whose purpose is “Telling the Story of America to Americans.”

Our first contribution tells the story of Thomas Etholen Selfridge (Hero 26, Card Pack 3), one of the pioneers of mechanized flight who—at age 26—was responsible for some significant “firsts.”

Armed Forces Bank’s “Militarily Speaking” podcast calls attention to The Grateful Nation Project

Hosts Tom McLean and Jodi Vickery discuss The Grateful Nation Project with President & Founder Craig Du Mez.

Listen to Militarily Speaking, Episode 61 (40 minutes) on the Armed Forces Bank website, or your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts | Audible | Blubrry | iHeart | Spotify | YouTube

The Standard Banner (TN) - Preserving Freedom: The Grateful Nation Project

By Steve Marion – ‘Grateful Nation Project’ connects students with local military heroes

Read the feature article (used with permission) >

Major General Leslie Purser, USA, Retired, shows Maury Middle School student Caroline Coates information about the “Grateful Nation Project” that will make research information available to her school. With them is School Board member Doug Ibbetson, who is also spearheading the project. Photo courtesy of Steve Marion | The Standard Banner. Used with permission.

Hero Cards, Grateful Nation Project featured on The Counter Culture Mom Show

On The Counter Culture Mom Show, former actress and Hollywood media expert Tina Griffin “explores the impact of popular video games, entertainment and social media and equips parents to safely navigate the pop-culture chaos and protect the foundational development of our children.” Tina’s show has been featured on NBC, American Family Radio, Sirius XM, Fox News, ABC News, The Washington Post…and more. Hero Cards and the Grateful Nation Project are featured on The Counter Culture Mom Show, Episode (428).

Students in 90 Knox County schools to connect with Heroes through the Grateful Nation Project

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE – June 16, 2023 – Local officials, Veterans, and supporters of Knox County  students gathered at Knoxville’s West High School auditorium to unveil six new Hero Cards. The cards feature six East Tennessee service members who gave “the last full measure of devotion” to our country.

Members of the six Heroes’ families were on hand to participate in the unveiling and to receive a commemorative display from Hero Cards Benefit Corp.

The event highlighted sponsorship of the Grateful Nation Project for 90 schools in Knox County, funded by the Vietnam Veterans of America (Captain Bill Robinson Chapter 1078). The day’s keynote speaker was Captain (ret.) Bill Robinson, a U.S. Air Force veteran who was held as a Prisoner of War for nearly six years in Vietnam.

Eddie Mannis, Founder of HonorAir Knoxville, addresses the audience at the June 16 Hero Cards presentation.

The day’s activities were organized by the office of Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, District Curriculum Specialist John Faulconer, and the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association (ETVMA). 

Watch the video from the office of Knox County Mayor, Glenn Jacobs

“Often when we have days like Memorial Day and we look at monuments and we see the names of people who have died in service to this country,” said Knox County Mayor, Glenn Jacobs,” But we don’t think about the story behind that. We just see the names. And I think that anytime we can do things to reinforce the fact that these are real people—and they were ordinary people thrust into sometimes terrible circumstances—that did extraordinary things. So it’s not only about the individuals represented on these cards but also the values that they embody.”

The six featured Heroes are:

First Sergeant Milo Lemert (Hero 118)
First Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman, Jr. (Hero 121)
Second Lieutenant Jane M. Blevins (Hero 122)
Sergeant Thomas Roy Hicks (Hero 129)
Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss (Hero 133)
Captain Marcus R. Alford, Sr. (Hero 134)

The Freeman - Waukesha County: Students pay tribute to fallen heroes

By Chris Barlow – Grateful Nation Project connects students with personal stories of American service men, women

Read the feature article >

LCCA 5th-grade student Catherine Butz and her Hero Card.

Students explore the lives of fallen service members at Lake Country Classical Academy

Hero Cards’ Grateful Nation Project aims to connect students to those who gave “the last full measure of devotion”

OCONOMOWOC, WISCONSIN – May 17, 2023 – When Lake Country Classical Academy (LCCA) in Oconomowoc began implementing the “Grateful Nation Project” in early May, each 3rd-10th grade student was handed a Hero Card picturing a U.S. soldier, sailor, or airman who gave “the last full measure of devotion” for their country.

Students were tasked with learning more about that individual and are given the option to present at the school’s student assemblies.

Lake Country Classical Academy students (L-R) Elliya Alexander, Theo Gill, and Blake Samson with their Hero Cards, participating in the “Grateful Nation Project.”

“We feel that the Grateful Nation Project is a good opportunity for our K-10th grade students to gain a better understanding and appreciation for what citizenship and patriotism really mean—by hearing the personal stories of these American servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said LCCA Head Principal Margaret Daigneau. “Through student presentations each morning throughout the month of May, we’re learning about the lives of real American heroes.”

The Grateful Nation Project from Hero Cards is a program for schools, designed to connect students to those who gave their lives in service of the country, from the Revolutionary War to the present day. Each card has a service member’s image, basic information, and a brief part of their story—along with a number for a website bio page with source links.

Each Hero Card has one fallen service member’s image and basic information, leading to a more detailed online story.

“There’s a tendency for even the best school curricula to cover our nation’s history in a very general way,” said Craig Du Mez, co-founder of Hero Cards. “We learn about the politics, the geography, the strategies of war. Our aim is to introduce students to the individuals who put their lives on the line so we can live as a free people. It’s so important to understand that these heroes are real people with real families. We’re not trying to glorify war, the military, or even these individuals. But we do need to understand what they did, and the proper response is one of gratitude. LCCA clearly understands that.”

The school also has students introducing the heroes to the wider community. Prior to Memorial Day, each elementary student will place a flag on the lawn in front of the school. Third- through sixth-grade students will label their flag with their hero’s name and honor him/her individually in the display.

The Grateful Nation Project is available at herocards.us/schools and delivers a Hero Card that leads to an online bio story for $1 per student. Sponsors can be secured to bring the Project to schools at no cost.

Hero Cards honor the sacrifices made by every member of the U.S. military—from the Revolutionary War to present day—who lost their life while serving.

About Lake Country Classical Academy

Lake Country Classical Academy is a public, tuition-free, teacher-led, K-12 charter school, providing a content-rich, classical education in the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue. The LCCA West Campus (grades 7-10) is located in Oconomowoc, WI, and the East Campus (grades K-6) in Okauchee, WI. For more information, visit lakecountryclassical.org.

About Hero Cards

Hero Cards Benefit Corporation’s mission is to honor the sacrifices made by every member of the U.S. military who lost their life while serving. The organization is creating a Hero Card for every fallen service member, and a permanent online archive to preserve each of their stories for future generations. Hero Cards are designed and made in the USA. For more information, visit herocards.us.

Press Contacts:
Craig Du Mez
Hero Cards Benefit Corporation
Margaret Daigneau
Lake Country Classical Academy

MKE Startup News features Hero Cards

Writer Anna Lardinois reports on Hero Cards’ mission, launch, and the Grateful Nation Project.

Read the feature article >

The U.S. Navy History Podcast interviews Hero Cards founders Dale Kooyenga and Craig Du Mez

Dale Robertson and co-host Steve interview Founders Dale Kooyenga and Craig Du Mez about the Hero Cards concept, origins, the process of honoring Heroes, and the new Grateful Nation Project for schools.

Listen to the podcast (29 minutes) >

Hero Cards named Wisconsin’s 2022 Veteran-Owned Business of the Year

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – November 29, 2022 – The Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce has named Hero Cards Benefit Corporation as its 2022 Veteran-Owned Business of the Year. The award was presented at the Wisconsin Veterans Business Conference, held in Milwaukee’s Marcus Performing Arts Center on November 10.

The Chamber (www.wiveteranschamber.org) serves veterans and military families by providing resources to support veteran-owned and veteran-friendly businesses across Wisconsin. According to Saul Newton, the Chamber’s President and CEO, “Wisconsin is home to more than 55,000 veteran-owned businesses, who report more than $20.1 billion in annual sales and employ more than 110,000 people. 10.8% of Wisconsin’s veterans are self-employed. The U.S. veteran population’s purchasing power exceeds $1 trillion annually.”

Hero Cards Benefit Corp. (www.herocards.us) was launched in March of 2022, with the mission to honor the sacrifices made by every member of the U.S. military—from the Revolutionary War to present day—who lost their lives while serving our country.

By developing collector cards that lead to online stories for each Hero, the company aims to educate students and adults about those who gave “the last full measure of devotion” for their country. Hero Cards recently launched a new Grateful Nation Project for schools, delivering classroom tools and implementation suggestions for educators to connect students with real Heroes.

“We’re very honored by this recognition,” says Craig Du Mez, Hero Cards CMO and Co-Founder. “Besides being veteran-owned, our growth plan is to employ veterans for research, writing, photo restoration and creation of original artwork.”

Dale Kooyenga, Iraq War Veteran, CEO & Founder of Hero Cards Benefit Corporation, comments, “Hero Cards funds our efforts through the sale of cards and through Grateful Nation Project sponsorships. The company also serves as a catalyst for donations to veteran-focused non-profit organizations.”

The Wisconsin Veterans Business Conference, held in Milwaukee’s Marcus Performing Arts Center.

L-R: Christian Thornton, WVCC Vice-President; Alannah McReavey, WVCC Board President; Craig Du Mez, Hero Cards CMO & Co-Founder; Saul Newton, WVCC President & CEO

Adrienne Pedersen, WISN 12 TV (Milwaukee) UPFRONT segment: ‘Hero Cards’ honors fallen war heroes.

“A new way this Memorial Day weekend to honor our servicemen and women, ‘Hero Cards’ has launched. Think baseball trading cards but featuring service members and their stories. The goal is to target a younger generation and to keep the stories alive for generations to come.”

WISN 12 TV’s Adrienne Pedersen discusses the Hero Cards project with Dale Kooyenga and Craig Du Mez.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Years ago, Dale Kooyenga wanted something meaningful to hand out at a parade. Now, he’s launched Hero Cards.

“After more than a decade in politics, state Sen. Dale Kooyenga is diving into a passion project that has nothing to do with bills or budgets. Instead, it's all about honoring those who served and sacrificed in America's wars.”

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Bill Glauber, along with photojournalist Mark Hoffman, tell the story behind the Hero Cards project.

Photo by Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel