Patriotism was in the air at Webb Park on Sunday when the Freedom Club kicked off its Fourth of July celebrations with the second annual Freedom Club Concert. Late in the afternoon, Rancho Bernardo residents and visitors trickled into the Park for the intimate concert, which was sponsored by Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (R-San Diego) and the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation.

The event drew 220 attendees last year and this year’s concertgoers brought a slew of foldable chairs and blankets, while the Courtyard Marriott grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.

The event was organized by volunteers from the Freedom Club and featured the U.S. Marines Recruit Depot Band.

This event held a personal significance to a lot of the attendees because of their military background. Fletcher, who is a former Marine, emphasized the value of the holiday.

“The Fourth of July is a really special holiday for me and all of us as Americans,” Fletcher said. “I spent two Fourth of Julys deployed, one was in the Sunni Triangle region of Iraq in 2004 and the other was in Africa in 2006. So it gives a really good appreciation when you come home for being with your family and friends. It’s probably one of my favorite holidays.”

The band kicked off the concert with the American Revolutionary War medley. The music set stayed within a patriotic theme with tunes such as Yankee Doodle and a few somber tributes that honored fallen heroes.

Veteran Tom Brugh said he values celebrating Independence Day each year.

“I enjoyed last year’s performance so much that I returned for this year’s,” he said.

The Freedom Club is hosting a series of events for the Fourth of July at Webb Park and president of the Freedom Club, Steve DeMatteo is enthusiastic about all of them.

 “It reinforces the patriotic feel that comes with the Fourth of July holiday and gives people the opportunity to celebrate again,” DeMatteo said.

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