ROSE BOWL PARADE

Headline News!

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Salute Veterans and Bob Hope in Rose Parade.

At its 101st National Convention in Milwaukee, WI, this past August, the
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) announced its plans to place a float in the
2001 Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day. The float will honor
entertainer Bob Hope, the VFW and America's veterans. Designed by
award-winning Raul Rodriguez and built by Festival Artists in Pasadena, the
float will feature an animated, voice-activated 40 foot Bob Hope in a jeep
surrounded by veterans of World Wars II, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm.
Included in the floral display will be the Bob Hope rose, the Bing Crosby
rose and the Dorothy Lamour rose. The float is titled, The Road to Victory in
keeping with the parade theme, "Fabric of America - 2001."

 Linda Hope, Bob's daughter and CEO of Hope Enterprises, made the announcement to the VFW members attending the Milwaukee convention by saying:

"My father has had a long and affectionate relationship with the VFW. This is a unique opportunity to honor three great American institutions - American veterans, the VFW, and Bob Hope. My father is very excited about this wonderful tribute."

VFW Commander-in-Chief John F. Gwizdak responded: 

"Bob Hope occupies a special place in the hearts of those of us who have served overseas during wartime. Bob was always there for us - making us laugh, lifting our morale."

Our participation in this float is a small token of the affection we feel for this American show business icon. The VFW, founded in 1899, is America's oldest major veteran's service organization. It's nearly 1.9 million members are comprised of overseas wartime veterans from every major conflict and military occupation for the past 110 years. Bob's association with the Tournament of Roses has been a long and happy one. He has been Grand Marshall twice - 1947 and 1969. Twenty Rose Queens and their courts have appeared on Bob Hope Christmas Specials. Plus, he was the main entertainer for the dinners held annually in the Los Angeles area honoring the visiting Big Ten
football team. 

Is Bob excited about the float? "You bet I am," he quipped,
"as long as I don't have to push it down Colorado Boulevard on New Year's Day." 

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I'm told that people will be needed to work on the float. - Jack E. Smith
Area VI

 

For more information please visit the following websites:

Visit the Bob Hope website at www.bobhope.com 

or 

the VFW website at www.vfw.org. 

Contacts:
Steve Van Buskirk (VFW) (816)968-1168
Nancy Jenkins (Fleishman-Hillard Comm.) (816)512-2359
Ward Grant (Bob Hope PR) (818)841-2020