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By Gerry Greber
 SAN DIEGO—For over 50 years Bob Hope entertained millions of men and women G.I.’s who served, overseas, in all branches of the United States military. This included the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and the Coast Guard.
During these five decades, which included WW II, the Korean War, Viet-Nam, and the Persian Gulf war, he took the military away from the fears and troubles of the day, and brought them the memories of what home was all about. Now, though deceased, he will be creating new memories.
On July 8, an event, called “A National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military” was held honoring the memory of Bob Hope, who died in 2003 at age 100. It was the dedication of bronze sculptures of Bob Hope speaking to 15 Armed Services personnel representing the various branches of the military which Hope had entertained during his world-wide USO tours.
Hope's symbolic audience includes both men and women, and represent, among others, an Army nurse, a Navy machinist, Korean War Marine, Paratrooper, Aviator, an Air Force Staff Sergeant.
The sculpted salute is located alongside the former aircraft carrier USS Midway, which is now a museum ship along the Embarcadero on San Diego Bay.
Speakers at the event on Wednesday, Julhy 8, included Robert Valderrama, Vice Chair of the Board of Port Commissioners; Admiral Len Hering, current Commander of the Navy Region Southwest; Ed Hagerty and Jack Yusen, members of Taffy 3, as well as Linda and Kelly Hope, daughter and son of Bob Hope.
Besides to the world famous comedian, speakers paid tribute to Taffy 3, an organization that worked tirelessly for about 15 years to raise the necessary funds, $1.5 million, for the tribute to Bob Hope and the military. These were survivors of the
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Battle of Leyte Gulf some of whom had their ships sunk under them and then survived three days in the shark infested water of the gulf.
Hope's children, now adults, recalled how their father once threw a big party for Service People he had met during the course of his USO tours. They said about 600 people showed up.
During the event , recordings of some of the repartee between Hope and the service personnel--and with fellow peformers--were played to everyone's delight. The troupes he took on annual Christmas tours to military bases typically included Les Brown and His Band of Renown, singers, beautiful women, and comedians of every background. Among Jewish performers who at one time or another entertained the troops with Hope were Marilyn Monroe and Yakov Smirnoff.
Wednesday's dedication closed with the Marine Corps Band of San Diego playing a series of military tunes in “A Salute to the five service branches of the Unites States Military”.
In addition to the “National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military," the area at the G Street Mole near the Midway features aircraft carrier memorials, “Battle of Leyte Gulf Memorial”, U.S. San Diego Memorial, and “The Homecoming Memorial. The latter is a 25- foot sculpture of a famous photograph of a sailor kissing a nurse in New York City's Times Square in celebration of VJ Day marking the World War II surrender of the Japanese. That sculpture is in San Diego on temporary loan.
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