Bush Orders US Flags Lowered in Honor of Bob Hope

Voice of America ^ | 29 Jul 2003, 00:23 UTC | VOA News

[yonif]

President Bush has ordered U.S. flags lowered in honor of Bob Hope, the legendary entertainer who died Sunday in California of pneumonia. Hope was 100 and had celebrated his birthday just two months earlier.

Mr. Bush said in a proclamation Monday that as a mark of respect for Hope's memory, flags will be lowered at the White House, public buildings, and U.S. posts and military installations worldwide on the day of his burial.

Flags are also to be flown at half-mast on U.S. ships that day. The burial will be private and held in the coming days.

President Bush praised the comedian, saying he "made us laugh and lifted our spirits".

Hope starred on stage, television and in nearly 60 movies. But he is perhaps best remembered for his untiring work entertaining U.S. troops overseas, a tour of personal duty that lasted from World War Two until the first Gulf War.

Hope was born in England in 1903 but left his homeland for the United States at age four. By 1930, he was starring on the vaudeville stage. In 1938, his career took him to Hollywood.

Earlier, Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth was saddened to hear of Hope's death and that she would send a message of condolence to his family.

Hope's career spanned more than 70 years. He was one of the few entertainers who became a star in all media from vaudeville to Broadway, radio, movies and television.

Hope also earned a fortune and gave generously to charity. The entertainer received so many awards that he had to rent a warehouse to store them.

Hope is survived by his wife, Dolores, four children and four grandchildren. Hope's daughter, Linda, said his impending death gave rise to one of his last jokes. When asked by his wife where he wanted to be buried, Hope answered, "surprise me."

A memorial service is planned for next month.

[CWOJackson]

Very appropriate. Thanks for this post...and Mister Hope, thanks for the memories.

[Elkiejg]

Hubby & I watched an A&E biography on Bob Hope last night. The film clips of all the troops he visited - especially those in hospitals - were touching. My husband commented - "wouldn't it be something if hundreds of thousands of military would show up at his memorial" -- that would really be something.

[CWOJackson]

Hundreds of thousands greeting him on his arrival.

[Jaxter]

[rintense]

A wonderful tribute to a man who supported our country and our troops without reservation.

[risk]

It's amazing how much that means in retrospect. He supported our troops when "FReeping" wasn't cool. Some civilians thought he was square in those days. But it was the patriots out there on the line with him, and he was one of them. And it's the patriots saving us today from Jihad and the Axis of Evil.

[Bluntpoint]

The day of Jeanne Garafalo's passing I will leave my garbage cans uncovered for a week in her memory.

[Catspaw]

I was hoping we'd be able to honor Hope in some way. He did so much for our troops throughout the years. This is one small way of recognizing his service to our armed forces.

[Damocles]

When asked by his wife where he wanted to be buried, Hope answered, "surprise me."

Making me laugh till the very end...he will be missed...

[theriotcat]

My flag went to half staff as soon as the news broke here.
Will remain so till after the funeral.
God bless this GREAT American

[Coop]

I'll be happy to fly ours at half staff tomorrow - to honor someone who so often honored our troops.

[wimpycat]

A fitting tribute by the president to America's only Honorary Veteran, by act of Congress.

[wimpycat]

If any idiot anti-war protester insists that he supports the troops but opposes the war, tell him that Bob Hope is the one who supported the troops. That's how you support the troops--the way Bob Hope did it. You wish them the best and tell them you're behind them 100% and that you want them to win. You make sure they know you believe in them.

[jellybean]

:)

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The day of Jeanne Garafalo's passing I will leave my garbage cans uncovered for a week in her memory.

LOL! Today's Hollywood "stars" cannot hold a candle to Bob Hope. All of them have that guilty conscience that they had shortly after 9/11. They know who the real heroes are, and people like George Clooney who previously bashed the military are quietly wishing they didn't.

[ServesURight]

I'm curious as to how next year's Academy Awards will commemorate Bob Hope, as they do with all entertainers who pass away in the previous year.

I got a gut feeling that it'll be a quickie 2-minute presentation buried in the middle of the program with a few libs crying crocodile tears about how Hope had an influence on their pathetic lives.

Film showing Hope entertaining the troops will probably not be shown.

[WestPacSailor]

The day of Jeanne Garafalo's passing I will leave my garbage cans uncovered for a week in her memory.

[Heff]

The day of Jeanne Garafalo's passing I will leave my garbage cans uncovered for a week in her memory.

This is too funny! I will still be laughing later today about this one. Very Good!!!

[biblewonk]

Wow, I've got major goosebumps!