:(

"Department of Defense Statement on the Death of Bob Hope
Today, we mourn the loss of a true American patriot. The first and only American ever to be made an honorary Veteran of America s Armed Forces, Bob Hope holds a special place in the national security pantheon. He called the troops his "best friends," and he made it his mission to be with them wherever they served,
regardless of distance or danger.

To many of our forces from across the generations, Bob Hope s visits were a taste of home in a far-off land; a moment of mirth in the middle of war, and a loud and clear message to our military that America honored their service and prayed for their safe
return.

Bob Hope s final tour, at age [90], took him to the Persian Gulf and the men and women of Desert Storm.

Although he is no longer with us in life, he will always remain, just as he was, in our hearts -- cracking jokes, boosting morale, and reminding all the world of what it means to be an American.

With profound gratitude for his decades of service to our country, we extend our deepest sympathy to his family and many friends."


Thanks to UDZeta for posting this on another thread. Since this is the bigger of the two, I thought it appropriate that the DOD announcement should be here as well.

I don't get too impressed with very many people, but had the honor of meeting Bob Hope through two productions.

The last was about fifteen years ago when our TV station brought him in to headline a dinner and oldtime USO type show to benefit and raise money for a Veterans Memorial statue which has since been build across the street form the Colorado State Capitol.

Besides Hope, the show included a big band from the Air Force Academy, the reigning Miss Colorado, an "Andrews Sisters" type group, another comedian, etc. As an unexpected bonus, his wife, Delores, a former entertainer herself came on stage and sang.

It was held in Hangar One at the former Lowry Air Force Base, with a B-52 as the background.

I had the distinct honor of directing the show.

While we couldn't televise the event, we did shoot it for big screens in the hangar and also microwaved it to the former Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center for servicepeople who were spending that Christmas in the hospital.

I'm going to have to go find my tape of the production and watch it.

I will use a word which is so overused it has become trite, but I can't think of a better one.

I was in absolute Awe of the man.

With all of the great entertainers who have died over the past several years, I have been dreading this one.

Not only a great entertainer, but a great American has passed on.