Grateful Wife and Proud Mom
My wonderful husband, Craig, is my best friend - my partner in life and ministry. I couldn't be more grateful to God for him. God has blessed us with three sons and a daughter-in-law, Ryan, Josh & Hannah, and Zach. We learn from each of them, and they make us so proud.
Elementary Teacher
Spending my days singing with children, watching them grow and change, sharing my faith, is a blast!
I'm starting my twentieth year of teaching, thirty-first if you count the eleven years of music lessons I gave while staying at home raising our boys.
My dad and mom, some of the world's greatest parents and teachers passed on to me a heritage of faith and patriotism. I pass that heritage on as I teach third grade at Mount Olive Lutheran School in Des Moines, Iowa.
Because I've had some friends who teach sign language, and seen how engaging and interactive it is, I've been using American Sign Language for years now. I've recorded sign language videos to teach a number of our Bible passages, songs, and speeches. They're in the Resource Library of this website, and I hope they're helpful.
Young Patriots Club Director
My highest goal as a mother and teacher is to instill gratitude in my children for the sacrifices made for us by our greatest hero, Jesus, and then for our American heroes who sacrifice for us daily. My students and I share our gratitude throughout our community by singing at local events.
After hearing then Lt. Governor Reynolds (now Gov. Reynolds) thank our children with teary eyes on Memorial Day 2016, Gina TenPas, Lauren Delpesce, Kris Moser, and I founded Young Patriots Club. Over the past seven years, it's become a K-12th grade local Christian ministry. Our mission is to honor God and uplift American heroes while growing servant leaders. We do just about whatever God leads us to do to give back to our heroes. We're grateful for the support of many volunteer leaders, our prayer team, and many local and state leaders and organizations. It a joy honoring Iowa's humble and brave heroes.
Christian Author & Composer
After being encouraged to publish a poem written to thank our veterans, Not Too Young, with the support of Craig, I published my first book, Because of You Old Glory Flies. This book is a great gift book for our American heroes, and contains new patriotic poems to be taught and performed by children. Our illustrator, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II, was an answer to prayer. His illustrations are amazing!
. Two of the poems, Think of Me, and Not Too Young are now songs we sing at local programs. You can find them, along with poems I've written for first responders in the Products on this website.
My blog, Grace to Go Around, shares the love and grace of God as I've known it. I pray you'll know it and be changed by it, too!
Julie Dueker - Author
Julie (Schmidt) Dueker is a Christian educator who loves sharing her passion for God, music, and patriotism with children of all ages.
In 2017 and 2019, Julie was honored as Iowa’s VFW Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Julie is the founder and director of Young Patriots Club, a Christian ministry of freedom–loving youth whose mission is to honor God and uplift American heroes. She and her young patriots perform at various events honoring heroes by reciting historical documents, singing patriotic songs, and sharing poetry, including the poems in this book.
Julie and her husband, Craig, live in West Des Moines, Iowa, where they have been blessed with the honor of raising three amazing young men, Ryan, Josh, and Zach. Julie is grateful for the support of her family, friends, school family, and Young Patriots Club who share gratitude for God’s blessings upon our country, and those whose sacrifices secure our freedoms.
Julie was excited to partner with the talented and nationally known Freedom Rock painter Ray "Bubba" Sorensen on Because of You Old Glory Flies. Be sure to check out his work!
Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II, Illustrator
Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II is nationally and internationally known for his painting of The Freedom Rock®. The Freedom Rock® is a boulder in rural Adair county in Iowa, painted as a heartfelt tribute thanking our nation’s veterans, and honoring their service to our country. Bubba has painted The Freedom Rock® with different tributes to our nation’s veterans for Memorial Day each year since 1999.
Bubba is painting a smaller Freedom Rock® in all 99 Iowa counties, telling a story unique to that geographical location. Bubba is working on the 50–State Freedom Rock Tour, painting a unique–to–their–state Freedom Rock for all 50 states in America.
Bubba has tremendous support of family and friends, most importantly from his wife Maria (Galanakis) and their daughter, Independence, and son, Michael. Bubba and Maria’s mural painting business, Sorensen Studios, is located in Greenfield, Iowa. Maria and Bubba work collaboratively to thank veterans one painting at a time. For more information about Bubba and his artwork, visit www.thefreedomrock.com.