OWASSO, Okla. — The Patriot Cup, an annual Memorial Day tradition, that brings PGA golfers, celebrities and spectators from across the U.S. to Owasso has been canceled due to the pandemic.
"We're not having big gatherings, so we'll be fired up in 2021 with the Patriot Cup again," says Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney, founder of the Folds of Honor organization that hosts the golf tournament.
The money raised each year from the tournament goes toward educational scholarships for children and spouses of fallen and disabled service members.
Despite the event cancellation, the nonprofit will continue to support these military families.
"We'll send about 4,000 people to school this August, but we'll have about two and 3,000 applications of qualified children and spouses that we won't be able to fund," says Lt. Rooney.
The public can support the nonprofit by making a donation online, so it can continue to fulfill its mission.
Over the years, Lt. Rooney says they've awarded more than 25,000 scholarships totaling about $120 million.
Although this Memorial Day will look different for the Folds of Honor than years past, he says the meaning of the holiday remains the same.
"Without this holiday, we probably don't celebrate any others in this country, and you look at the over one million veterans who have paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives," says Lt. Rooney.
The organization's office in Owasso is celebrating Memorial Day with its dozens of American flags lining up its pathway along with plaques of more than 1,500 names of fallen service members.
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