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Burr Ridge patriot to visit 50 state capitols in 50 days
Mickey Straub of Burr Ridge stands in front of a statue his family donated to the Burr Ridge Veterans Memorial in honor of his father-in-law who served in World War II two years ago. | Ryan Pagelow—Sun-Times Media
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NAME: Mickey Straub
BEST KNOWN AS: local businessman and patriot attempting to visit all 50 state capitols in 50 days
HOME TOWN: Burr Ridge
Article Extras
Updated: October 7, 2012 6:05AM
BURR RIDGE — Mickey Straub of Burr Ridge believes in big goals and short deadlines.
In that way, his plan to visit all 50 state capitols in 50 days isn’t out of the ordinary.
Even the 55-year-old himself admits that his plan is ambitious, and maybe even a little crazy.
“I really wonder if I’m going to be able to do it,” he said.
But after years of consideration, he is ready to find out.
Straub set out Sept. 4 for a tour that he said is about the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and a return to the ideas on which the country was founded.
“We need to go back to Lincoln’s founding principles,” he said.
Those principles included a strong faith in a being far greater than Congress or the presidency.
Lincoln, a personal hero of Straub, often referred to God in his speeches and writings.
“I want to find out, is God still in our government?” Straub said.
Straub will search each of the country’s state houses for influences of God and of Lincoln. He plans to stream videos of his findings to his website, reclaiminglincoln.com.
God was mentioned in Lincoln’s most famous speech, which Straub plans to recite at each and every capitol. As he recites the Gettysburg Address, he will invite others to join him and to reflect on its messages of God, liberty, unity and equality.
Straub is making the trip, which began in Gettysburg before moving on to Harrisburg, Pa., in a slightly souped-up 1997 Lincoln Towne Car, embellished with magnets touting his endeavor.
“I’m doing this on faith,” said Straub.
Although he has a route drawn up, he has no hotel reservations or flights booked to the faraway states of Hawaii or Alaska.
“It’s just going to work out,” said Straub, who estimates the cost of his adventure at between $30,000 and $40,000.
“I know I am supposed to do it,” he said.
A self-described patriot and Christian, Straub is owner and founder of Sales Activity Management in Burr Ridge. He also is founder of Proud to be Republican, a nonprofit organization that Straub said is “dedicated to preserving America’s principles.” This trip, he said, is made in that same spirit.
Fifty days after departing for Gettysburg, Straub plans to conclude his trip in Springfield, where he will recite Lincoln’s famous speech one final time.
“I want to promote God and freedom through Lincoln’s legacy,” Straub said.
