Rick is huge advocate of heritage preservation and knowing your lineage. This video was filmed at the gravesite and old homeplace of his mother's family, the Hannahs of Carroll County, TN. It is a heart touching presentation you need to see.
The Origin of Heritage Keepers of America
After developing a curriculum and print materials, he recruited some of his friends and fellow historians who had a deep passion for teaching and began to setup Heritage Keeper chapters in dozens of schools. The results of the program have been amazing. Several students have gone on to become history teachers and a couple have become living historians who perform as historical figures in schools on a regular basis.
The first Heritage Keeper chapter (2005) was located at Rutherford Elementary School in Dyer County, TN. To Rick's right is his mentor and Keeper leader Bill Foster. To his left is principal Ken White, who is accepting the new charter.
Rick designed a flag to fly during ceremonies and outdoor events. It is an eye catcher for sure.
Rick and Keeper leader Glenn Stanley conducting a meeting at Friendship Elementary School, in Crockett County, TN.
Heritage Keeper chapters start at the fifth-grade level and advance through the high school level.
The Keeper Handbook is a primer for volunteer Keeper leaders who come into the ranks to setup new chapters.
Our Mission Statement
The mission of the Heritage Keepers is to raise the public awareness of individual, local, state and national heritage through the means of oral presentation, Living History events, print or electronic media. Heritage preservation through education is our goal.
Our Pledge
I am a Heritage Keeper of America, and I pledge to protect and preserve my individual, local, state and national heritage. I am forever in prayer for Divine wisdom, forever in study for personal knowledge and forever in servitude of my Country. I am a Heritage Keeper.
Our Motto
The future of our past depends on what we do today!
Treasured Words
The Declaration of Independence was our proclamation.
The Constitution became our reclamation.
For freedoms lost to liberty’s gain.
The Bill of Rights is your right to claim.
The Star-Spangled Banner, let your anthem ring.
The Pledge of Allegiance gives your commitment wings.
To these treasured words you must hold fast.
Or freedom as we know it, will be a thing of the past.
Rick Revel, September 19th, 2004
Rick's main goal is to make sure each fifth-grade student in the program has a copy of the Declaration of Independence, Bill of rights and our Constitution. Several hundred copies of these handbooks have been handed out over the past twenty years.
The second book each student receives is the Keeper Workbook that contains nine monthly lesson plans for the students.
The Keeper Tree section of the book is most rewarding as students uncover their lineage and find their place in history.
The History Bowl
Desiring to challenge his students, Rick devised a competition between Heritage Keeper chapters called the History Bowl.
