Folds of Honor and lots of red, white and blue: How the JDC is celebrating the 4th

The John Deere Classic and the Fourth of July go together like ketchup on a cheeseburger. It’s a perfect match. This year is no different. In fact, there’s a little more to celebrate with America’s 250th birthday.

“250 years is a long time and we’re still here,” said a golf fan at the John Deere Classic. “Just celebrating the anniversary.”

Friday at the TPC Deere Run tournament is always Folds of Honor Day. People are encouraged to be decked out in their red, white and blue. Each fan in attendance is given an American pin upon entrance to the course.

“I saw you’re supposed to wear some USA gear today and I was like, heck yeah, Fourth of July tomorrow,” said Drew Minder, a golf fan at the tournament. “Threw it on, and we’re rolling baby.”

The day started bright and early with the national anthem at 6:30 a.m., before the first golfers teed off. Charlie Conner, a choir student at North Scott, sang the anthem written by Scott Francis Key.

“I think it’s really cool just to have someone just representing, like, yeah, this is my nation and I’m really proud of it,” said Conner.

Folds of Honor partners with golf tournaments across the country to help those who served and their families. The organization delivered over 11,000 scholarships across the country, including 12 in the Quad Cities area.

“To both military and first responder families who have been disabled or their service member has fallen in service,” said Sarah Bush, the senior director of golf for Folds of Honor.

Folds of Honor looks for donations and awareness this time of year to help them fund their thousands of scholarships they hand out each year. For more information, click here.

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