American Security Today September Digital Magazine September 2016 | Page 83

Volume 7

What Do YOU Push For? Connecting
Americans to Our Veterans & Armed
Forces, One Pushup at a Time
By Leigh Ann Ranslem, Boot Campaign Board of Directors

September 2016 Edition
I was not raised in a military family, and perhaps
that is why I am so grateful to the ones who are
willing to serve. Their devotion and dedication to
our country allows the civilian population to freely
choose our own passions and careers.
After reading this book, I was awakened to this realization of how others sacrifice for me and my family and I was compelled to do something more.

Johnny Joey Jones Pushes for the men & women serving this
country. Who Do YOU Push For?

Patriotism. What comes to your mind when you
hear the word? You probably see the American
flag, maybe envision a soldier in uniform, or perhaps you hear the Star Spangled Banner floating
through a sports stadium. Do you think of pushups? If not, you should and here is why.
The Boot Campaign’s Pushups For Charity initiative is a way to show your patriotism and raise funds
for our military community. I’ll explain. Several
years ago, four of my friends and I were inspired by
Marcus Luttrell’s story in the book “Lone Survivor.”
Each of us had a unique reaction. I realized how
relieved and grateful I was knowing that there are
folks like Marcus who answer the call of duty.

(Pushups For Charity is Boot Campaign’s flagship initiative to
raise awareness of the challenges military service members
and veterans face, and raise money to support their unique
needs. Learn more at PushupsForCharity.com.)

We Push for Friends and Family. What Do
YOU Push For?
I needed to help others see and appreciate these
heroes that allow me to do what I do 24 hours a
day. My friends felt the same way and we decided that we have a duty to thank the patriots who
protect us on our own soil and abroad. We need
to show the family members of these soldiers how
much we appreciate their sacrifices. So how do we
do that and where do we start?
We began by photographing various celebrities in
combat boots hoping to bring attention to our military. This was a simple visual of civilians putting
themselves in the shoes of our servicemen and
women for a brief moment. The idea was for the 99
percent of the population to take time out of their
day to be grateful to the one percent who protect
our freedoms.
83