Cherokee’s Stoelting sisters pen book on patriotism
By Michael Morain|mmorain@dmreg.com As Independence Days go, Friday was a pretty quiet one for Stacie and Carrie Stoelting.The sisters from Cherokee have made a name for themselves singing patriotic songs for various civic events over the last few years, including high-profile political rallies across the state. They’ve sung for Honor Flight groups in Washington, D.C., as well as conservative events like the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition’s spring kick-off.
But this week they focused instead on their new project, a recently released “citizen’s handbook” called “Unite the USA: Discover the ABCs of Patriotism.” In short, it encourages Americans to “act,” to “be bold” and to “connect” with their neighbors and lawmakers.
“I don’t think enough people understand that — that if you do get involved, it does make a difference,” Carrie Stoelting said.
She and her sister wrote the book especially for others in their generation, who in their opinion don’t take citizenship as seriously as they should — especially when it comes to honoring veterans.
“We can’t do enough for the men and women who have fought for our freedom,” Carrie Stoelting said. “We live in the land of the free because of the brave. That’s the message Stacie and I both try so hard to share with our fellow Millennials.”
The sisters’ book scored a recent endorsement from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who heard them sing at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition’s spring kick-off.
“I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Stacie and Carrie sing at several events, and they are gifted, enthusiastic and passionate patriots whose love of America is contagious,” he said in a prepared statement.
Both Stoeltings are earning degrees online — Carrie in pre-optometry, Stacie in psychology — but they plan to continue their civics campaign.
“People always say, ‘Well, what I would do is just a drop in the bucket,’ ” Carrie Stoelting said. “Well, how does a bucket get filled?”
But this week they focused instead on their new project, a recently released “citizen’s handbook” called “Unite the USA: Discover the ABCs of Patriotism.” In short, it encourages Americans to “act,” to “be bold” and to “connect” with their neighbors and lawmakers.
“I don’t think enough people understand that — that if you do get involved, it does make a difference,” Carrie Stoelting said.
She and her sister wrote the book especially for others in their generation, who in their opinion don’t take citizenship as seriously as they should — especially when it comes to honoring veterans.
“We can’t do enough for the men and women who have fought for our freedom,” Carrie Stoelting said. “We live in the land of the free because of the brave. That’s the message Stacie and I both try so hard to share with our fellow Millennials.”
The sisters’ book scored a recent endorsement from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who heard them sing at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition’s spring kick-off.
“I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Stacie and Carrie sing at several events, and they are gifted, enthusiastic and passionate patriots whose love of America is contagious,” he said in a prepared statement.
Both Stoeltings are earning degrees online — Carrie in pre-optometry, Stacie in psychology — but they plan to continue their civics campaign.
“People always say, ‘Well, what I would do is just a drop in the bucket,’ ” Carrie Stoelting said. “Well, how does a bucket get filled?”
