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The citizen-led movement was hosted by the American Security Council Foundation and affirms everyone’s role in preserving democracy and protecting security.
The program’s goal is to raise awareness of the principles of American democracy and the practice of good citizenship.
ASCF President and CEO Henry Fischer said Step Up America “supplements citizenship education with a free downloadable toolkit that defines freedom and democracy, security, and what we can do as citizens to step up and preserve the American way of life.”
The program included: a color guard from Carmel Boy Scout Troop 14; a welcome from the Putnam County Executive, MaryEllen Odell; an invocation from Dr. Vince Patton; the singing of the national anthem by Janine Stange, “National Anthem Girl,” who has sung the anthem in all 50 states.
In addition, the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Pinnacle Five, the highest senior non-commissioned officer leadership rank in each of their respective services and there was an overview of the program by USA Today columnist Dr. James Robbins, and comments from Dr. Fischer and Putnam County Sheriff and ASCF Board Chairman and Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith.
Smith, a Retired Army Brigadier General, said that Step Up America is “a clarion call to America to embrace good citizenship and protect what makes us so special by keeping America strong through the teaching of our founding document, our governing document, our values, our principles, and our institutions of government.
"Step Up America reminds us that we have sacred duties as American citizens and we should never take our freedom for granted," he said.
For more information about Step Up America, see www.ascusa.org.
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