Rick Green [00:00:07] Welcome to the Intersection of Faith and Culture. Thanks for joining us today on The WallBuilders Show. Rick Green here with David Barton and Tim Barton. Our websites are wallbuilders.com and wallbuilder.show. Go to wallbuilders.show for radio, go to wallbuilding.com for everything else. Later in the program, Kimberly Fletcher will be with us from Moms for America, big nationwide organization that gets moms involved in patriotism and teaching their kids those things and influencing what's going on in the culture. And now guys, she's working with us and the White House and that whole group of like a hundred different groups doing all of these amazing 250th efforts. And it looks like there's going to be a really cool tour that's going to take place in all throughout a 20, 26, you know, yesterday, David, you were actually talking about going all the way through July 4th, 2027 for that full year as well. So I got to get my mind around that and start thinking July 4, 2026, it's not over. We got to be ready to keep doing these things well beyond that. Right. 

David Barton [00:01:00] Yeah, we got still 10 months to go before we get to the start of the, I guess we can call it the super centennial, to the star of the super-centennial, and then we're gonna have 12 months after it starts. And so, Kimberly, as you point out, is Moms for America, one of many groups that's doing things, but this is what's really cool this time. This is very much, I wanna be careful how I say this, but it's kinda like an orchestrated, spontaneous grassroots movement. Orchestrated in the sense that there's dozens and dozens, literally hundreds of groups that are going to be doing things, and a lot of those groups are doing things across the nation as Kimberly is doing. So you're going to literally have thousands and likely even tens of thousands of celebration events Going on across the nation and then you're gonna have so many local cities and and local areas and counties and states that will do their own celebrations I mean this this is something that I don't know that we've had anything that rivals the scope of what I think we'll see Particularly when we get to 4th of July 26 for the next 12 months or so It's going to be absolutely amazing to see what's going on in America. And to think that we're alive for all this and we'll be seeing stuff that you know if America continues and the world continues people will be writing about for a long time after this. That's pretty cool. 

Tim Barton [00:02:19] Really cool dad I am curious and I'm asking on air something that I have not asked you in person so I am really curious what the answer is gonna be what was the 200th anniversary like before my time Rick you know I don't know exactly where you were 50 years ago 49 years ago in elementary school almost so dad what was the 200th like was was there much festivities was there energy in fact I don't even I have think about what year that is well me say that's yeah and I'm thinking that's that's I was trying to think of who was president at that time Jimmy Carter that's right that's not a a super celebratory kind of president in my mind what was to feel like this 

Rick Green [00:03:07] Well, and he would have been actually Carter would have been winning that year later that year, but Ford would have been president when it happened, right? When the 200th happened on July 4th, 1976, Carter would have in that in the second half of that one year of celebration. 

David Barton [00:03:23] And it's interesting because you had, that's when Ronald Reagan also ran for president. And so leading up to that, so you have Ronald Reagan on the scene, who's very patriotic. You had Gerald Ford, who is very, I'm gonna say presidential in the sense of like, where he was out of the Congress. He's presidential in same way a senator is presidential and is fairly formal and fairly set. And so he set up a presidential commission, he set up a bicentennial commission. There was great fireworks displays, but there was not much spontaneous across the nation. You had bicentenial commission that put out things about the 200th anniversary and they went back and there were a few videos done that I recall, but nothing like is bubbling right now. This is, this is really grassroots. It's from the bottom up and the top down. You have the energy of the president, because we even talked yesterday about the 250th and what he's doing with Pray America, or America Prays, rather. And so, I mean, that kind of a spiritual emphasis definitely was not there, nor the emphasis that it needs to be something done every week throughout the year, not only the year coming up to it, but the celebratory year. There are so many things going on now that you will not be able to sleep through this super centennial. And a lot of people were able to sleep through the Bicentennial. There were some academic things done, there was a few patriotic movies done, but it was nothing like the penetration that's already started. And we're not even to the Supercentennial yet. We got a year to go, and already we got more going now than what we had in 2000, based on my recollection having gone through it and what struck me at that time. 

Rick Green [00:05:14] Yeah, and I was trying to find some, a couple of months ago, remember when we did that panel with Paul Blair and, and,  Ken Blackwell. And, and so we were talking about some of those, some of those things that, you know, how we could do better this time than they did in, in 1976. And so I'd gone back and researched and I was trying find what were the most impactful things that that lasted. And really the only two things that stood out were the train thing that they did, they had, they, had a patriotic train, that went across the country and then schoolhouse rocks. That came out of the 76. So we still have some of those schoolhouse rocks that we used to teach people, 50 years ago. That's, that's when all of that was put together. So maybe guys, we can, you know, not only have all these celebrations and these moments, and, and even getting people through, you know, the rebuilding Liberty course and constitution classes and all that good stuff, but maybe also there can be a whole new generation of cool educational materials. That all these different groups, because I know a lot of people are working on things like that, that'll stick, you know, that will actually last because they're done well and either funny or entertaining or whatever, but they help to educate the kids. That that's one of the things I'm looking forward to for sure. And part of, you, know, creating that lasting effect is going to be some of these tours like that. Like that train tour, from 1976, but this is going to be what, man, we're going to learn about a tour that goes way beyond what that train to her did and like you said, David, I mean, this is one of many groups doing stuff like this. But excited to see what they've got planned for America's 250th. Kimberly Fletcher and Moms for America when we return on The WallBuilder Show. 

Rick Green [00:07:52] Welcome back to the WalBuilders Show. Thanks for staying with us. Great to have Kimberly Fletcher back with us, Moms for America making a huge difference out there and a great partner for the 250th. Hey Kimberly, thanks for coming back on. 

Kimberly Fletcher [00:08:03] Well, thanks for having me! 

Rick Green [00:08:04] Well, we're we're excited about all that's going on and you are man talk about busy B I thought I was busy you're all over the place and uh and about to be truly all over the place for for essentially a whole year, hitting all 50 states I'm so pumped about the 250th and I think God's really you know, we actually started about the same time I think moms you started moms for america what 2003 2004? 

Kimberly Fletcher [00:08:27] 2004, yeah, you started around the same time. 

Rick Green [00:08:29] Yeah, we started 2000 and of course WallBuilders has been around forever, but sorry David and Tim when you hear this, anyway, it is it is a a really inflection point moment for American history And I think these organizations God has prepared for exactly this time so that we can educate America on her founding 

Kimberly Fletcher [00:08:47] Well, it's great because we don't realize God sees the whole picture. We're just threads in the tapestry or pieces in the puzzle. And when you turn it over and you see the whole picture, you're like, oh, He's had this all along. And He's been preparing us and putting these things in place that we had no idea what we were preparing for. And now this year, it just, we get to absolutely celebrate and an explosion because we have been preparing for it for years without even realizing it. 

Rick Green [00:09:15] Yeah, and I think, I don't know about you, but had he shown us the whole picture from the beginning, we'd have been like, that's too much, can't do it. That's right, exactly, exactly. Well, listen, we wanna get people plugged in to what you're doing. So website momsforamerica.us, momsforAmerica.us. And then if they wanna get involved in the tour, well, tell us all about it, but if they want to be a part of it, just go to the website there and sign up for the mom movement. Is that the best thing to do or is there a specific 250 sign up? 

Kimberly Fletcher [00:09:43] Yeah, there's a specific 250 signup. It is americat250tour.com and it has all the information that we are, all the things that we're going to do and all the information that they need to be a part of it. So my, my big call to action is all everybody out there has some kind of gift or talent or story that they can share in their own community or a part of the tour, and we just want to welcome everybody into this, to this big tent. So basically what we're doing is in honor of a monument in Hawaii that I found in 2012, and the friendship train that most people don't know about. That is the inspiration of the tour when America was all united together years ago, and we have all that information up on the website. But I love these stories that we aren't telling. We should be telling them. And this is an opportunity for us to tell the story of America. So we're going to 50 states, 50 weeks, 250,000 miles. Traveling around the country, bringing the party to you. So instead of you having to go to Washington DC, if you can, that's great. There's some activities gonna be there, the big national fair. We're working with the White House 250 Task Force. We are collaborating with all the different state and local organizations so that we can bring all the things that the state and communities have to offer right into this fair. So what is this fair? It is like a traveling county fair called Patriot Village. We have five semi trucks, five RVs. Multiple vehicles that are only traveling in a convoy around the country. And we are working with a DOD to get a flight to take America's wall of honor to Hawaii and Alaska. So America's wall of honor is a, a 60 foot wide, 15 foot high black lacquer monument that was created by a gentleman who is a veteran, a former first responder, he was, that lead paramedic in Hollywood for 15 years. He took all of those experiences in his artistic eye and he was able to find a way to blend acrylic light and metal to create beautiful artwork. And so on this monument are all of the symbols of the armed forces, the first responders and right in the center is the presidential seal. And he has a Patriot Thunder show that he does with about 40, 45 minutes. Where you have video and audio and pyrotechnics highlighting each one of those branches and the presidents through the years. An incredible, incredible presentation. 

Rick Green [00:12:20] I look I'm looking at it online Kimberly. We got to send everybody there america250tour.com go check it out You can scroll down and see America's wall of honor and the other pieces we're about to talk about but yeah It's just it's stunning. I mean, it's hard to describe. It just just beautiful. It's beautiful 

Kimberly Fletcher [00:12:38] Well, and we're going to be giving it to the president for his presidential library, at the end of, of all our touring. So it's, it is a beautiful piece that just needs to be, you know, heralded and, and visited. And so this is an opportunity to do that. We also have kids America hall of heroes, all of these sections are inside Patriot village so that we can create interactive content and activities for the kids from reenactors to storytellers to create a Liberty Bell and go home with the story of the bell. And, you know, we just want them to go home with the experience and share the story of America with them. So it was a complete family entertaining experience. And then we have Liberty Trips. And that's the one that I'm specifically going to be on. I am going to living in an RV for a year. We are, Liberty Trippes is we created this beautiful little stuffy Liberty. He's a big old puppy. And we have a book series, Where's Liberty? The first book has been published and it helps children understand freedom, patriotism and liberty through beloved characters. And then all the other books take Liberty and his friends on a journey to visit all these different places and share the story of those people, places and events that made America. And so we'll be going and meeting with people in all 50 states and it will be the story of America through food, through families, through all different activities as we're going on this tour. And we have our mascot, Real Beagle Liberty, which will be with us on the tour. So that will be fun.

Rick Green [00:14:16] I love it. Well, as a family that traveled the nation in a bus for, you know, 15 years, 43 states, broke down in 40 of them, you, know, we loved it. Love-hate relationship with that bus, but it was how we got to see the country. I mean, it's exactly what you're talking about doing, giving people a chance to experience it. So when they walk in Patriot Village, you know they, like you said, they may not be able to go to D.C. They may not be able go to Boston or some of these cool historical sites. But when they come to your event, they're gonna be able to essentially step into that history and experience it. I just love that you're bringing it to them. 

Kimberly Fletcher [00:14:50] Well, and most people, they can't travel, and that's one of the things that we forget. You wanna be a part of it where you are, but this helps us to be able to ignite that excitement and patriotism within those states and communities. And so they can do things throughout the year if they want, but when we come, they all come together in the state, in the community, sharing the story of America. We've picked 26 flagship locations, which are where we'll have big concert events, speakers. We have a patriotic show called American Journey, and it is the story of America with, again, pyrotechnics, music, reenactors will have musical performances. And the locations we picked them based on the fact that they are state-specific, but had a monumental impact in the American experience as a whole. So in Florida, it's Space Coast. In California, it is a film industry. We have Detroit, it a auto industry, Hoover dam. I mean, we've picked a various different places that people don't think about and the incredible history and story behind them. I mean the Hoover dam is an incredible story at a time when our country was, was devastated economically and, there were a lot of people saying, well, just give things to people. That was at a time where you don't just give things to people. They didn't want handouts. They wanted jobs. And so the president at the United States said, you know what, we have a project that we need done. This has valuable assets to the country and it will provide jobs to people. And so they built a whole city around Hoover Dam to build that dam, which is an incredible feat in and of itself. But all of the things behind it, the innovation, the creativity, the resilience that came around that one little project is astounding and nobody talks about it. So these are the stories we wanna tell and meet with the people who are there. Who know the stories and who have been managing these properties and then the American people can join us online. So if you can't come, you obviously can't to every one of the 50 locations that we're going to be coming to, but you can join this online and be a part of the tour throughout the tour. We're going to launching a national photo contest, Where's Liberty? You can upload your photos on a where's liberty platform so we can see where liberty's been, where's liberty wherever you are. And it unites the country together. So it truly is a family friendly, family fun experience for the whole country to get involved in. 

Rick Green [00:17:22] How long will you stay at each location, each of those 20 locations? 

Kimberly Fletcher [00:17:26] Most of them will be there five to seven days, but some of them like New England, it's gonna be like two to three days because they're very close together. Yeah. And in a couple of the states, as Texas and California are so big, we have two stops. And it's funny because there are cities that are fighting over us. And they're like, please come to our city, please come our city. So there's a buzz and an excitement around it that is pretty cool. And we are choosing locations that have a population of 250,000 or less, some of them are only 75 to 100,000, but they're close to locations with over 500,000. So we're picking the small towns close to the big cities so that more people can, can, it can be a part and easy fly in. If you want to, you know, come from another state to visit what we're doing in that state, you can do that too. 

Rick Green [00:18:16] When when can people start seeing dates and locations that's I know you I know y'all still planning and doing all that but what should we shoot for? 

Kimberly Fletcher [00:18:23] Well, behind the scenes we have the whole entire tour plotted out, but we're not making it public yet. The one thing that we have made public is we are launching December 31st in Huntington Beach, California with a red carpet Hollywood experience and that fireworks and everything. It's going to be amazing. The Huntington Beach City of Huntington is very excited about that. And then we will be traveling the southern states in the cold months. So in January, February, we'll be traveling through to Florida. Then we'll be going up the coast, the New England coast, and then we'll going to the northern states and the hot months and coming back through the Midwest in the fall. So that'll give you kind of an idea of where we're gonna be. We will be launching the full schedule shortly, but we're securing the locations with the cities themselves before we announce it because we don't want them to get upset if we have to pull it, so. 

Rick Green [00:19:19] I hear you totally understand totally understand. Well, very very exciting and and just love what y'all are doing looking forward to being a part of it I always love partnering with you and and we want to encourage all of our wall builders folks and Patriot Academy folks in your state when these dates get released start start working to get the word out and get people to plan to be there when the tour arrives and Kimberly will get you back maybe a month or two from now and and start announcing dates and just doing more specifics, but thanks for all you're doing. Not just with this, I mean, I know that Moms for America is very involved on the ground, you're teaching people, you've used our Constitution classes before. I mean we just love what you're doin'. You're gettin' not just the moms, but the whole family involved, and we're definitely on the same page rebuilding Liberty. This is awesome. 

Kimberly Fletcher [00:20:03] Yeah, it's a great partnership. And if anybody out there wants to be a part of our founder circle, Moms for America has put together in honor of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 56 founders of this tour. And you can just come to Moms For America and email us or call us, and we'll be happy to get you set up and be a founder for this incredible tour. 

Rick Green [00:20:27] Americatoofiftytour.com for all the 250 and then for moms for America it's momsforamerica.us see I practiced I made sure I said .us. Kimberly, God bless you, thanks for coming on. 

Kimberly Fletcher [00:20:39] Thank you. 

Rick Green [00:20:40] Stay with us, folks. We'll be right back with David and Tim Barton. 

Rick Green [00:21:49] Welcome back to The WallBuilders Show. Thanks for staying with us. Thanks to Kimberly Fletcher for joining us. And of course, check out the Moms for America website, MomsforAmerica.us. And then start looking into this this tour. This can happen. We'll get it back later when we've got specific dates. But guys, this is this the kind of stuff we've been saying for a long time needed to happen. You know, we call for in the Rebuilding Liberty course, five thousand celebrations is what we're hoping for. That's only 25 percent of the 20,000 communities across the country with 500 or more people. And like you said, David, there's lots of different groups, lots of different people. I mean, churches could throw their own celebrations and should. What a great opportunity to restore the church as the epicenter of the 

David Barton [00:22:25] And just what Kimberly was describing, we've already surpassed 1976. I mean, just the tour she's got set up, going across the South in the winter, and then going up the coast, et cetera. All of that and what they've got with the monuments, with the concerts, with all the things they have, all the thing they make available before you get there, after you're gone. There's much more, I would say, even thought and penetration into local communities than what we saw even with the train in 76. And that's just one group. And you know there's there's dozens of groups And it's going to be just an awesome experience, people are going to have the opportunity to enjoy so many different forms of celebration, so many different venues of celebration. So many different ways to celebrate America as these various groups come through, it's gonna be great. 

Tim Barton [00:23:13] Well, dad, I'm reminded to, I think it was yesterday that you talked about. Um, I I'm trying to think of the Bible verse where, you were talking about God's voice, sounding from many directions, something along those lines. I don't know what verse you. 

David Barton [00:23:27] It was in Daniel where that Daniel was seeing the Son of God and he said his voice is the voice of a multitude and out of Daniel 10-4. 

Tim Barton [00:23:35] Yep, that's right from Daniel and, you know, it's interesting as, as you, I think you even alluded to this yesterday that we haven't been the only ones, that have been kind of promoting and carrying this torch to some extent. Well, you, Kimberly and Moms for America, they're a group that have been around a long time and they've, they have done a lot. Kimberly's put in a lot of work and this is going to be something over the next year that as, they are helping Americans relearn American history, as they're helping Americans fall in love with America again and celebrate America. Rick, I'm reminded even when you talked about or you commented that this would be a great time for churches to come together too. I don't have my computer in front of me, otherwise I would pull up the exact quote. Dad, you might remember this off the top of your head. But where John Adams told Abigail, he was referencing July 2nd, because July 2 is where they actually declare independence. July 4th is when the declarations presented to the public. So John Adams is, when he's writing Abigail, he's talking about July 2 in this regard. But he said it would be celebrated as a day of independence and that there should be religious celebrations. Dad, do you remember the exact quote of what he said? 

David Barton [00:24:44] Yeah, it's back and it was that that letter where that he was writing Abigail and it was July the second. And he was saying that, hey, he said, I think this day will be celebrated by succeeding generations. And then he talked about whether that was right or not. And I think the quote you're looking for, he says, this ought to be commemorated as a day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. So that was the way he kind of prophesied and foresaw the way that we would celebrate Fourth of July and Independence Day. 

Tim Barton [00:25:15] Well, and that really does tie in to the connection to churches. They, they saw in American independence as a very spiritual thing. It would only be done with God's help and God's intervention. And so we ought to be remembering just like God delivered Moses from, and really the Israelites from Pharaoh, that that's what God was going to do for America. And so there ought to solid acts of devotion to almighty God. And so Rick, to your point, this is definitely something that churches should be celebrating. We know because of such poor history in American academics and education, a lot of Christians in churches and pastors, they just don't know the history of America, or they bought into the modern narrative about America being so bad. But that's why it's great that there are groups out there like what Kimberly has done with Moms for America, what we've been doing at WallBuilders, where you started with Patriot Academy, so many groups that are going to be helping Americans remember and find ways to actually celebrate this incredible history of America. 

Rick Green [00:26:14] What a great time to be alive! So excited about this next year. Well, as David reminded us, almost two years. So let's get ready, folks. Make sure you're already talking to people in your community about what you can do. Talk to your pastor about it. Have in your church plan some kind of special celebration. Talk to public servants in your city and in your county. And already start making plans. And make it more than just that one day on July 4th. Let's do some good study in between now and then. Some good preparation. And then let's celebrate for a full year. Thanks so much for listening. You've been me to the WallBuilder Show.