Parkville Gold Star family gets backyard makeover, including putting green

PARKVILLE, Mo. – A Gold Star family in the Kansas City area gets a big ‘thank you’, in the form of a backyard golf set-up.

Folds of Honor and “Celebrity Greens team up to provide a fallen hero’s family with the makeover, including a putting green.

In just 48 hours the Katzenberger’s backyard will be transformed into a putting green. It’s part of a backyard makeover for the family of a fallen service member.

United States Staff Sergeant Jeremy Katzenberger was killed in Afghanistan in 2011. Katzenberger was posthumously awarded the Purple and Bronze Star Medal.

The Celebrity Greens Crew joins Folds of Honor to recognize this family’s sacrifice.

“When you lose your husband at 26, you lose a lot more than just your husband,” Colleen said, “I lost a lot of hopes and dreams and a big part of my identity and a big piece for me of getting through that was becoming a teacher.”

Colleen is entering her ninth year of teaching and said the nonprofit, Folds of Honor helped make that happen.

“I miss having a best friend, I miss having somebody to parent with. I think if there was one thing he really got robbed of it was helping to raise Everett,” Colleen said. “Being a single mom is not easy, but organization like Folds of Honor have helped carry that burden with me and I will forever be grateful to them. “

She and Everett are both Folds of Honor Scholarship recipients. Colleen graduated with a Master of Education from Rockhurst University.

She’s living her dream – teaching in the Park Hill School District.

Folds of Honor is now teaming up with Celebrity Creens to make her son’s dream come true – putting a putting green in their back yard.

“All these people came from all over the US,” Everett said. “They came here for me and my mom.”

Everett was just 7 months old when his dad died.

“I miss him every day,” Everett said.

The now 13-year-old holds dad close to his heart as crews transform their back yard.

The orange circles show where the hole on the green will go. Crews also put in a tee box where Everett can practice driving and chipping.

“On the right side there will be a hitting net where I can do full shots with my driver and stuff,” Everett said.

It was all hands on deck, including Kansas City Royals Hall of Famer George Brett.

“I want to be here when they set the cups and then come back, maybe later when it’s all done and have putting contest with him or something,” Brett said. “We’ll have a lot of fun.”

Brett said Celebrity Greens helped him install two of these at his homes. He taught Everett how you can use a basketball to read the green and place the cups.

Co-Owner of Celebrity Greens Weston Weber said this gift won’t cost the family any green.

“That’s the best part, all these people are donating their time, we have the turf supplier, Challenger Industries supplying the turf,” Weber said. “So, we supply the labor and materials, so everything here is given to them is as a thank you.”

Colleen is moved by the generosity and can’t wait to make memories, while Everett works for a hole in one.

“This to me is a lot more than a putting green,” Colleen said. “It’s an opportunity to make memories and come together and reflect on how people continue to honor his dad and our sacrifice.”

You can find out more about Folds of Honor and their scholarships here .

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