Newsroom
By Steve Marion – ‘Grateful Nation Project’ connects students with local military heroes
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.
Due to inflation and the rising cost of paper, ink, and shipping, Hero Cards is moving away from doing a monthly printing of cards. The production of Hero Cards and stories will continue! But we’re combining the monthly printings into a few larger print runs each year—which will greatly reduce the cost of producing cards.
Besides inflation, another factor in this strategy is the growth of our Grateful Nation Project for schools and Veterans groups. There is an enormous opportunity to get these Heroes’ stories into more Americans’ hands, and we will be dedicating our efforts to expanding the Project nationwide. We believe that the Grateful Nation Project presents the most promising opportunity to share the stories of those who gave “the last full measure of devotion” for our freedom—with more Americans.
What’s happening with my Hero Cards membership?
We certainly value the support of our faithful members! Options for members include:
We can complete your membership year (12 Card Packs) by sending earlier Card Packs, or…
We will refund the remaining balance of your membership.
Members will receive an email requesting your preference.
Will Hero Card still be available if I’m not a school or Veterans organization?
Yes! The September LOYALTY Card Pack (cards 193-204) will be the last monthly printing. Previous monthly printings—Card Packs 1-17—will remain available for purchase from our Online Store while inventories last and reprinted as demand dictates.
As more Hero Cards and accompanying stories are added, we’ll be making those available from the Online Store as well—just not on a monthly basis or in the form of annual memberships. Whether future Card Packs will be in groups of 12, 50, 100, etc. is yet to be determined.
For those of you who would like to continue your Hero Cards collections, we’ll send out notices each time a new printing of cards occurs. Be sure to sign up for our e-updates so you never miss an announcement!
I believe in the Hero Cards mission. How can I help?
Our mission remains unchanged! We’re excited to continue producing these Heroes’ stories, to ramp up the expansion of our Grateful Nation Project, and to share their stories with more people! You can help the Project expand by contacting your local teachers, school admins, school districts, and Veterans organizations (American Legion/VFW post, for instance) and asking them to participate. Use this link to explain the Grateful Nation Project: www.herocards.us/schools.
Questions? Contact info@herocards.us
The production of Hero Cards and accompanying online stories will continue, with larger but less frequent print runs.
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).
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)
By Chris Barlow – Grateful Nation Project connects students with personal stories of American service men, women
LCCA 5th-grade student Catherine Butz and her Hero Card.
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
Writer Anna Lardinois reports on Hero Cards’ mission, launch, and the Grateful Nation Project.
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.
