Who is Free to Be?
Free to Be is the only non-political, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of its kind committed to inspiring patriotism in our young people. It encourages a sense of pride and involvement in the greatest nation on earth. Presented for free at middle and high schools coast to coast since 2006, the Free to Be assembly program consists of an award-winning video, interactive discussion, and local veteran guests. It's all about America, our home, and how lucky we are that it is; freedom - its value and its cost, and not taking it for granted; the importance of getting your education; the opportunity America provides to us all; and respect and love for our veterans and our country...patriotism. In America today could there be a more important message ?
Play slideshow to see FREE TO BE in the schools !
Mission
For decades America's young people have taken their country, their freedom and their way of life for granted. If this continues they are destined to lose it all... Free to Be solves this critical problem. We tackle it head-on, school by school. We go directly into the schools, in person, eye to eye and heart to heart with the students - and their teachers - with the message that matters... the most important class of their lives.
Through a powerful, interactive, non-political presentation — in a live assembly venue — Free to Be challenges and inspires students to truly cherish their AMERICA, to get their education, and to be interested, informed, involved citizens who will elect our leaders and be our leaders.
Free to Be is non-political, has no hidden agenda, exudes diversity, and is free to the schools.
97% of teens who experience Free to Be confirm - admit - that Free to Be changed their thinking, behavior, goals, or life. Imagine 97% of America's 24,997,875 middle and high school students acquiring respect, pride and love for America and the freedom, education, opportunity, and hope she affords us all! Then, four years later, imagine the next 25 million learning this essential life lesson, then the next and the next... this is our quest... for the country, for the young people who will soon inherit it, for us all.
We are striving to save a great nation... a special nation. Someone must. We found the avenue to the young people! Therein lies the answer. But we need help. If you have benefited from the hope, opportunity, education, and freedom that comes with being an American, you can be a very direct part of this quest to preserve and protect America's future. The young people who will soon manage and govern this great nation must have a solid footing in our historic legacy of freedom and patriotism if America is to continue to be the beacon of hope to the world.
Below are the graphs we show the kids. It is the dramatic median incomes of age 25 and older full time, employed Americans in 2018 from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. It will surprise you also. Students are persuaded to reconsider dropping out of school after experiencing Free to Be.
Free to Be
video
(watch below)
video
(watch below)
The actual video we show the students on our giant screen.
Young Free to Be supporters
with Bob Lucas, WWII veteran
Jackson Tooker, Bob Lucas & Landon Floyd
then and now
St. Cecilia Catholic School
with Bob Lucas, WWII veteran
Jackson Tooker, Bob Lucas & Landon Floyd
then and now
St. Cecilia Catholic School
Veterans Day
Assembly Pictures
Paul Merriman, WWII - Iwo Jima Purple Heart recipient
Paul brought his WWII memorabilia
St Cecilia students honored to meet Paul Merriman
Assembly Pictures
Paul Merriman, WWII - Iwo Jima Purple Heart recipient
Paul brought his WWII memorabilia
St Cecilia students honored to meet Paul Merriman
Northern California Tour
Assembly Pictures
Fortuna High School with Stan Howe, WWII veteran
Smith River School with Jack McCutcheon, WWII veteran
K-8th grades
Redwood Middle School with Jack McCutcheon, WWII veteran
6-8th grades
Burnt Ranch School with Frank Garcia, WWII veteran
4-8th grades
Hoopa High School with Bill Carpenter, Korean War veteran
9-12th grades
Hayfork Middle School 4-8th grades
Southern Trinity School 6-12th grades
Veterans Day
Assembly Pictures
WWII veteran Norman Woodruff at North Zulch
WWII veteran C.B. Perdue at Harmony Academy
NEBRASKA TOUR
Assembly pictures
Harvard High - Alumni Wendy Salyers Pollard
WWII veteran Lester Ljunggren
Gering Jr High - WWII veteran AL Reiber
Bluffs Middle School - WWII veteran Al Reiber
Kansas Tour
Russ O'Meara, Larry Tooker, Charle Walje and Arnold Debrick in Paola, KS
Paola Middle School, (Kansas) meeting the veterans
Arnold Debrick, Jenifer Tooker, Charlie Walje
Bradley Smith at Osawatomie School (Kansas)
Greg Demko at Grand Saline, TX displaying artillery
Iwo Jima survivors at 67th reunion in San Antonio
Paul Merriman, Iwo Jima Purple Heart at
67th Survivors Reunion
Paul Merriman
April 11, 1927 - June 3, 2017
We will miss you sweet Marty.
You continue to tour with Free to Be...
your legacy will never be forgotten.
Martin "Marty" Ritchey Sidener
Feb 1, 1925 - Feb 7, 2015
We will miss you sweet Marty.
You continue to tour with Free to Be...
your legacy will never be forgotten.
Martin "Marty" Ritchey Sidener
Feb 1, 1925 - Feb 7, 2015
Keep in contact with Free to Be!
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SHOPPING ONLINE ?
click below logo or link
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/42-1604582
and Amazon will donate 1/2 % to
SHOPPING ONLINE ?
click below logo or link
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/42-1604582
and Amazon will donate 1/2 % to
Free to Be
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Free to Be in ACTION !
Schools to Reach
45,232
Students to Reach
24,029,349
SCHOOLS REACHED
click here
STATES VISITED:
Arkansas
California
Florida
Kansas
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Texas
Utah
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Jenifer and happy students
Students in Milwaukee
Bob Batterson (Corpus Christi, TX)
US NAVY - Pearl Harbor Survivor
Col. Jerry Curtis (Temple, Tx) tells students about his experience
being a prisoner in Hanoi for 7 1/2 years
Academy Middle School students thank Col. Jerry Curtis
Academy students in line to meet a true hero !
WWII Veteran Bob Lucas
.JPG)
Del Triechler, WWII Iwo Jima
Fifth Marine Division
Are you a veteran?
Click here
for more information.
Tell your stories to the
new generation.
WWII Veteran Norm Woodruff
at North Zulch School gets hug
from littlest BIG fan and BIGGEST little fan !
WWII Veteran C.B. Perdue shows
Harmony Academy students the jacket
that helped him during POW times
Nebraskan WWII veteran Al Reiber
Al Reiber talking to students at
Bluffs Middle School
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Lester Ljunngren - Harvard, Nebraska WWII veteran
Veterans attending Harvard School Assembly
WWII veteran L.G. Wilder - Gering, Nebraska
Jenifer Tooker
WWII veteran Al Reiber - Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff students meeting their local veterans
Mitchell Jr/Sr High with WWII veteran Al Reiber
Greg Demko showing artillery to Grand Saline students
WWII veteran Dell Triechler from Milwaukee, WI
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FREE TO BE:
To Whom it May Concern,
In the following confusion that was my job, extra duties and life following your most excellent program at our school the Teacher Responses were lost and I am just now having the clarity of organization to write to you and send you our student responses. I apologize for this because your program was first rate. Feel free to use anything in the following paragraphs as my teacher response. As an 8th grade U.S. History Teacher I was profoundly moved by your presentation, especially the words of the Veterans. It is rare when in a Junior High auditorium filled with students that you can hear a pin drop, but you could when your program reached the point of discussing the sacrifices made by Veterans. IT WAS POWERFUL ! Secondly, these students need to know that while Freedom is not Free it is Priceless and can be lost if they don't get involved in issues, politics, and the government. Your program conveys that in a way that is easy for them to understand. I think every school in the United States should see this program from the big urban cities in the east to the plains of the mid-west, right to the beach front schools of the west coast. Every student and for that matter, teacher should see this program! Thank you for coming to Moore Central Junior High , and thank you for your presenter's professionalism and dedication to this country!
Brent Cory, Department Chairman - Moore Central Junior High
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Lufkin, TX veteran Louis Bronaugh
Lufkin, TX veteran Raymon Bluiett
Lufkin, TX WWII veteran Jerry French
Genova Spencer (Army) at Jarrell Middle School
Army veteran Genova Spencer getting hugs
from Jarrell students
Robert Royal (Bob) Lucas 98yrs old
March 3, 1920 - July 14, 2018
Robert Royal Lucas of Dallas, Texas passed away on Saturday, July 14, 2018.
He was born on March 3, 1920 to Robert and Winnie Lucas in Rosebud, Texas.
Robert graduated from Rosebud High School. He hitchhiked to Waco, Texas where he graduated from Baylor University.
After graduating he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp, where he was a bomber pilot of a B-24.
He and his crew were shot down over Germany, but he was able to get his plane into Switzerland.
He escaped his interment and made his way back to England.
He spent the remainder of the war flying planes for overseas shipments.
After the war he moved to Houston, Texas where he married Francis Hall on November 15, 1945.
He then went to work for IBM and started his family.
Robert spent 30 years with IBM, then retired to play golf, quail hunt,
spend time with family and friends, and spend time at his ranch.
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