PROMOTING TRADITIONAL AMERICAN VALUES

70th Anniversary Ceremony to Commemorate the Signing of Korean Armistice Agreement - July 29, 2023

Omaha’s Memorial Park was the site for a beautiful event to honor our Nation’s Veterans who served in “The Forgotten War.”

Retired Captain C. R. “Rex” Gruber of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Don Kane, both “young” 92-year-old combat veterans of the Korean War shared their experiences, along with Dr. Carolyn Manhart, whose Korean-born parents immigrated to the United States after the Korean War.  A Korean Womens Ensemble sang “ARIRANG,” a Korean folk song. The Greg Spevak Orchestra entertained before and after, and Bill Johnson aka Bob Hope was excellent at bringing back many memories of a very popular USO entertainer.

Our thanks to the following sponsors: Ted & Colleen Hubbard, Sandhills Global, Mutual of Omaha, The Ford Dealers Association, Renze Display Company and HyVee!

The Korean War lasted three years, and at times, was fought in -35 degree weather. Our Nation lost over 40,000 troops and 100,000 more were wounded, while over 7,800 remain missing in action.

PATRIOTIC PARADE - May 27, 2023

Patriotism was alive and well on a beautiful spring day in downtown Omaha, as crowds estimated between 15-20,000 lined the streets from 10th & Jackson to 13th & Farnam along the new Gene Leahy Mall. Over 100 parade entries lined up near ConAgra (thank you, ConAgra!) with Fort Riley’s Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard, riderless black horse, Purple Heart and Tomb of the Unknown leading the way. Following them were the Gold Star families, Veterans, and First Responders. The Parade had a distinct historical element with banners announcing each era of our Nation’s history, and filling in behind each banner were children in costumes, re-enactors, military vehicles, wagons, cars, tractors and more representing each era.

PATRIOTIC PARADE & CONCERT - May 28, 2022

PATRIOTIC PARADE & CONCERT - May 29, 2021

The Patriotic Parade began with Lee Greenwood singing the National Anthem at 12th & Jackson in Downtown Omaha. The parade then moved East to 10th Street, and turned South to The Durham Museum, where a Patriotic Concert was held following the parade. The Patriotic Concert included: Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA,” Camille Metoyer-Moten performing “American Anthem,” the Omaha Symphonic Chorus and Grateful Heart singing selections of patriotic music. Master of Ceremonies was Hal Daub, Army Veteran, former Omaha Mayor and U.S. Congressman.

BACK THE BLUE II -October 25, 2020 Eagle Raceway, Eagle, Nebraska

In spite of freezing temps, a small crowd gathered to show support of law enforcement while others watched the program from the comfort of their homes, thanks to News Channel Nebraska.

Highlights included Lee Greenwood singing the National Anthem and “God Bless the USA,” and Steve Spurgeon singing “Wake Up in the USA.” Speakers included: Reverend Steve Thomlison, Former FBI & Nebraska State Patrol Chaplain; Hal Daub, Former Congressman, Omaha Mayor & Past Regent; Officer Briana Gaston of the Lincoln Police Department; Ben Wormington, USMC Iraq Combat Veteran; Paul Orduna, Former Federal Agent, and his wife, Sharon Orduna; Dr. Jaime Seeman, Mrs. Nebraska 2020 and wife of a Lincoln Police Officer; and Steve Yost, Music Director, Christ Community Church who led everyone in singing God Bless America. The 50-minute program was emceed by Bud Synhorst of Lincoln.

A PATRIOTIC message from Coach Lou Holtz:

BACK THE BLUE - July 11, 2020 Omaha’s Memorial Park

AMERICAN SPIRIT SUMMITS

2013 to 2017

The American Spirit Summit is an annual speaker series presented to citizens and students in the greater Omaha area. Its purpose is to highlight those people who've overcome tremendous adversity in their lives and to provide teenagers and adults alike with positive role models and examples of perseverance.

5th Annual American Spirit Summit

September 1, 2017

Guest speakers at this year’s summit talked to students about their own perseverance, encouraging the students to endure:

Mark LeFlore, Manager, Douglas County Youth Center, Dr. Tom Osborne, and Attorney General Doug Peterson

4th Annual American Spirit Summit

September 2, 2016

Mark & Joni Adler shared their journey of losing their son, Reid, who took his own life January 7, 2016. Reid was a victim of intimidation and bullying, a situation his parents knew nothing about until after his passing. They challenged students to spread hope and kindness and to stand up for each other and not allow bullying or inappropriate treatment between students.

SgtMaj Brad Kasal, an Iowa native, is a USMC legend. He is a Navy Cross recipient for his extraordinary heroism in Iraq in 2004. He was severely wounded in the Battle for Fallujah, losing 60% of his blood after being shot.

Teri Roberts has determination to deal with devastation. She’s done it every day since 8-21-13 - the night deputies found her daughter, Andrea Kruger, murdered near 168 & Fort Street in Omaha. Fifteen months later, Teri was hospitalized with what she thought was a bad case of the flu. Her entire body had shut down from an infection and she was in a coma for 12 days. When she woke up, she found that her hands & feet had been amputated due to gangrene. She is an example of perseverance.

3rd Annual American Spirit Summit

September 4, 2015

2nd Annual American Spirit Summit

September 4, 2014

1st Annual American Spirit Summit

August 22, 2013

SAVING REAGAN: FEATURING DR. BENJAMIN AARON

January 18, 2013

On March 30, 1981, an attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan (just 69 days into his Presidency) occurred outside the Washington Hilton hotel.  Suffering a punctured lung and heavy internal bleeding, most people never knew how close to death President Reagan actually was. Dr. Benjamin Aaron was a surgeon in the U.S. Navy for 22 years and the head of George Washington University Hospital's cardiovascular and thoracic unit when Reagan was shot.  Dr. Aaron ultimately made the decision to operate on President Reagan when the bleeding from the President's chest would not stop. Dr. Aaron is credited with saving the President's life.

COLONEL GEORGE “BUD” DAY

July 23, 2012

Colonel "Bud" Day shared his unbelievable story of survival at one of the world's most notorious prisons, "Hanoi Hilton," in North Vietnam.  Bud Day enlisted in the USMC and served 30 months in the Pacific during WWII. He was later trained as a pilot and served two tours flying a fighter-bomber during the Korean War. 

Colonel Day volunteered for a tour in Vietnam in April 1967.  On August 26, 1967, he was flying an F-100F in an air strike against a surface-to-air missile, 20 miles north of the DMZ in North Vietnam. He was on his 65th mission into North Vietnam when anti-aircraft fire crippled his aircraft and forced the crew to eject. Day was quickly captured by the North Vietnamese, escaped, and captured again to remain a prisoner of war and cellmate of John McCain. Held captive for five years and seven months, Day was repeatedly tortured, beaten and starved, until his release on March 14, 1973.  Three years later, President Ford awarded Colonel Day the Medal of Honor for his personal bravery while a captive in North Vietnam. 

Sadly, Colonel Day passed away July 27, 2013. He was one of our nation’s most highly decorated servicemen, who died in his wife’s arms after a long illness. Senator John McCain said, “Bud Day was the bravest man I ever knew.”

MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS

January 15, 2011

MARINES TO QUANTICO

November 5, 2010

This event escorted a select group of Marine veterans to Washington, DC to see the Marine Corps War Memorial and the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, VA.

COLONEL GLENN FRAZIER

April 16, 2010

IWO JIMA FLAG-RAISING UNIT

March 26, 2010

[THE REAL] BAND OF BROTHERS

December 4, 2009