posted on July 28, 2003 06:24:49 AM new
Of the thousands of awards bestowed upon Bob Hope the Congressional Gold Medal is among those he has treasured the most. President John F. Kennedy presented Hope with the medal on September 11, 1962. The medal reads, "Bob Hope" Humorist, Humanitarian, Patriot Presented to Bob Hope by President Kennedy in recognition of his having rendered outstanding service to the cause of Democracy throughout the world.
Nobody has traveled so far, so often, to entertain so many.
posted on July 28, 2003 07:38:48 AM new
His humor and his humanitarianism will be missed by many! The world can use angels like Bob Hope. We were blessed to have known his humor and his unending devotion to the betterment of humanity.
Cheryl
Power to the people. Power to the people, right on. - John Lennon
posted on July 28, 2003 11:31:36 AM newD.O.D and Pentagon censor Hope's entertainment program on his last tour. 1995.
His trip to the Saudi Arabia to entertain American troops in 1990 was the last of those journeys and one in which he ran afoul of Pentagon censorship. The Defense Department said it had ``restricted media coverage'' of Mr. Hope's visit for security reasons and because of the likelihood that the show would be ``exploited by the Iraqis for propaganda purposes.'' Mr. Hope said he had been forced to censor his material heavily in consultation with the Pentagon and to remove a number of jokes, including those that deal with ``the clothing the women wear around here.'' He was also forced to leave a number of women out of his show, although an exception was made for his wife, Dolores, who was allowed to appear on Christmas Eve to sing ``White Christmas'' to the troops.
Mr. Hope was among those artists and performers awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton in a White House ceremony in 1995. He has also been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Distinguished Service Medal from each branch of the armed forces.
On his 94th birthday in May 1997, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution making him an honorary veteran of the armed forces, noting that Mr. Hope ``has given unselfishly of his time for over a half-century to be with United States service members on foreign shores, working tirelessly to bring a spirit of humor and cheer to millions of service members during their loneliest moments and thereby extending for the American people a touch of home away from home.''
posted on July 28, 2003 03:24:47 PM new
Flags should be flying at half-staff. In 1990, Bobe Hope could barely walk but he still visited our tent city in the Saudi desert in 100 degree heat.
