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Resolve, rededication, and devotion to the truth

Catch the inspiring plenary sessions and awards banquet from the Race to Freedom!

Although the checkered flag waved for the Race to Freedom Convention of States Grassroots Leadership Summit this past Saturday evening in Indianapolis, the race to liberate our country continues – and COS is running in prime condition, fueled with resolve, rededication, and devotion to the truth.

Following registration and a convivial ice cream social on the evening of September 18, Convention of States President and co-founder Mark Meckler opened the first plenary session with a stirring, poignant, and electrifying video tribute to Charlie Kirk.

As Mark said:

“When they killed Charlie, they took something from us.…and the thing that I think we can do is to honor him by boldly professing our own faith and boldly speaking the truth about the world as it exists. And that’s not easy.…but the biggest thing that I hope that you come away with is a renewed hope in humanity, and a knowledge that there are a whole bunch of people like you out there in the world that are willing to stand for what's right.”

As if that weren't inspiring enough, Indiana governor and COS endorser Mike Braun welcomed everyone to his home state by recounting how he became involved in politics following his construction of a successful business that grew by operating in the direct opposite manner of the federal government.

The governor emphasized the importance of an Article V convention that would go far in replacing what he called “farm system politicians” by telling them to “Get your butt back to where you came from.”

Gov. Braun once again proved himself to be a politician without a slick veneer or gimmick, a Hoosier through and through and true COS champion. Watch the entire first session by clicking below:

Friday, September 19, dawned with a brilliant Indiana sunrise and Mark's announcement that Gov. Braun had signed a proclamation marking it Article V Convention Day in the state.

With that wonderful news, the day's plenary session began with an appearance by self-styled “diehard COS fan” and White House Make America Healthy Again chief Calley Means, who said that “We are the counterculture right now.”

He discussed his fight to improve health in the United States and federal policies that have made American children the sickest in the world in the kleptocratic health care system that bears no resemblance to a free market.

Means was followed by a video greeting and message from bestselling author, attorney, and nationally syndicated radio host Mark Levin, who said that an Article V convention “is the only way we will get our Constitution back,” and thanked the grassroots by crowning them “the best of the best.”

The Great One was followed by Tom Lindsay, Higher Education Policy Director at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. He linked the vital importance of education and an informed citizenry by stating “You can't defend what you don't understand.”

Article V Convention Day in Indiana was celebrated in part with a visit from the spirited Micah Beckwith, officially the Hoosier state's Lieutenant Governor, unofficially the state's motivator-in-chief. He also stressed the importance of education and Biblical principles in being able to not only know the truth, but to speak it – and he can speak it. Beckwith rattled off Bible verses at an astonishing rate to back up his points and energize the audience.

He added that God worked through Charlie Kirk to allow him to speak truth boldly. Lt. Gov. Beckwith said “I don't want silence in America.”

You can watch all of this (including Q&A sessions with Mark) by clicking below:

As is the case at each COS Leadership Summit, plenary sessions are supplemented with grassroots training workshops, and the Race to Freedom featured interactive tutorials on topics ranging from developing winning grassroots teams, building relationships with legislators, Article V Apologetics, and even how to win elected office.

Jim Collinsworth of New Jersey's State Director Leadership Team said that he was impressed by the “camaraderie, inspiration, and education” that the Summit provides.

“This is my third one,” he said, “and each one has gotten progressively better.”

His sentiments were echoed by Terri Huff, a District Captain in Tennessee, who said that the Summit was “very impressive” and that she especially enjoyed the workshop that focused on working with other groups to advance the movement to call an Article V convention.

In between plenary sessions and workshops, attendees had many opportunities to network, socialize at events such as the regional dinners, and even hone their skills on two Indy 500 racing simulators to prepare for the Article V-Hundred competition that was held on Saturday afternoon.

Friday's second plenary session featured Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, and former U.S. Senator and current COS senior advisor Rick Santorum.

Roberts, whom Mark Meckler labeled “a rare breed of leader” said that the best way to honor Charlie Kirk's legacy was to continue the work of calling an Article V convention, as more and more Americans will be open to the message of the necessity of rebuilding institutions that have been politicized.

Such an approach, he said, will also go far in keeping a vision of not what America will look like as we celebrate our 250th anniversary next year, but what America will look like at 500.

Sen. Santorum implored leaders to talk openly about the role of faith in their lives, and recalled that in the not-too-distant past, both Republicans and Democrats agreed about fundamental things, and that “God was part of the vernacular of the public square.”

He also discussed the example of the late Sen. Tom Coburn, who had a sense of right and wrong and, who despite being ravaged by cancer, continued to fight for right and answering those who asked why he kept battling by asking them “What else would I do?”

To that, Mark Meckler added “Absorb that and take it to your heart. Then take it to your teams.”

Watch these two important appearances by clicking below:

No COS Summit would be complete without Mark Meckler's “brother from another mother,” America's Constitution Coach and Patriot Academy President and founder Rick Green, who focused on the legacy of Charlie Kirk, comparing him to Revolutionary War hero Dr. Joseph Warren, and saying that, as it was when Warren died in battle, “the mantle is waiting to be picked up. We've got to disciple people coming before us…to be Biblical citizens.”

In addition, he touched on plans for the America 250 celebration and stressed that it would be an opportunity to teach the Constitution – which very much includes Article V – to a broader audience. Catch Rick's inspiring message below:

The Race to Freedom concluded with pedal to the metal down the main straightaway during the closing banquet, awards ceremony, and keynote address from constitutional attorney and COSA co-founder Michael Farris.

Dr. Farris compared the process of getting to 34 states to the long march and necessary patience that it took to reaffirm and declare and the basic rights of homeschool parents and the effort to overturn Roe v. Wade, both causes in which he and groups that he had founded played a vital role.

His message of steadfastness and reliance upon the truth was preceded with a celebration of outstanding COS volunteers and one state team in particular. Keep an eye on the blog for more about that, but you can watch the entire closing ceremony below:

So concluded a truly inspiring and invigorating Race to Freedom, all of which ran extraordinarily smoothly thanks to the untiring planning work and flawless execution of the principal organizers from the COS national staff: National Events Coordinator Carol Aldridge, Operations Systems Manager Kristen Stanciu, Chief Grassroots Officer Mike Ruthenberg, and Operations Support Manager Tonya Ruthenberg.

The Race to Freedom has been run, and the race to 34 states and convention begins anew. There is work to do. Let's get to it.

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Created:	2025-09-22 09:56 GMT
Updated:	2025-09-29 07:00 GMT
Published:	2025-09-22 12:08 GMT
Converted:	2025-11-11 12:06 GMT
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