A sunny Saturday set the scene for loud cars, grilled hamburgers, and open hearts as Currie Motors Ford of Valpo hosted their annual car show fundraiser for Folds of Honor. From car enthusiasts to war veterans, the lot was packed people supporting Gold Star students through Folds of Honor.
A standard part of any military funeral is the presentation of the folded flag, which had moments before draped the coffin, to the surviving family. It is a fitting symbol for Folds of Honor, a charity that provides college scholarships to gold star students.
“We try to support a lot of the community events, but we don’t really have events on our lot,” said Leo Sfikas, General Manager of Currie Ford of Valpo. “Acacia Church has been really good to us for letting us use their lot.”
In order to host the lot party, the Currie team moved over 400 vehicles down the street. The Currie associates at the event were proud to support the cause, accepting no commission during the event. Currie Ford not only hosts the event but matches dollar-for-dollar the money raised—from the food sales, to the raffles, to the entry fees for the car show participants.
“The thing that we respect so much about Folds of Honor is that the majority of their proceeds go to benefit gold star families,” said Sfikas. “We all appreciate what the charity does. That’s why we go all out every year.”
David Mckee, a 27-year retired Army Warrant Officer who served across the globe, has been involved with Folds of Hope for a couple years. He spent the past 11 years as a civilian chaplain, serving soldiers and their families.
“This is a great event, a great ministry, and a great fundraiser for gold star kids,” McKee said.
Bob Carnagey of Folds of Honor spoke of a family he met his first year hosting the organization’s golf outing. The family had traveled all the way from Fort Wayne just to attend. They told him their son had been killed in combat in Iraq in 2003, and that they were helping to raise his gold star son.
“[Folds of Honor] thought it out very well. Their heart is in the right place,” Carnagey said. “That’s because they were moved to the soul when they saw a coffin unloaded off an airplane, draped with an American flag, and an 8-year-old standing there saluting…We all want to help military families, we just don’t know how.”
For many patriots, Folds of Honor is a great way to support gold star families by helping gold star students go to college.
Currie Ford is proud to support Folds of Honor again this year, and plan to hold the same event during next year’s Memorial Day weekend as well. Until then, you can help the 4,000 Gold Star Students on the Folds of Hope waiting list by donating at https://www.foldsofhonor.org/
