Mission Monday: Bob Hope

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I know you are probably wondering why I would post pictures of a statue of Bob Hope for Mission Monday. But there is a good reason. Stay with me.

This is clearly a giant statue of the “Kissing Sailor,” a photograph taken for Time Life Magazine in Times Square on that fateful day in 1945 when the Japanese announced an “Unconditional Surrender.” The U.S.S. Midway Museum is in the background. I really wanted to see the statue while visiting family in San Diego for Christmas, so I did. And I took some fun pictures with my iPhone – not my Canon DSLR because I didn’t think I would be posting them on my Catholic blog.

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Investigating the area further, my husband and I came across this: the National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military. Listed as Public Art, the bronze statues depicts servicemen listening to Bob Hope’s comedy routine. One of the statues holds a sign which reads “Thanks For The Memories Bob.” A recording from one of his shows can be heard while spectators visit the site.

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The following day we headed home via the 405 freeway, a slightly different route than we would normally take to our home in Northern California. I was pondering what I might be posting in the new year and sought my husband’s advice. He looks out the window, pointing and without skipping a beat he says, “Mission San Fernando next exit, do you want to go?” I smiled and said, “Okay.”

We thought about visiting it at Thanksgiving, but since we never take that freeway it was a bit out of the way.

It is a simple mission structure and looks much like every other mission inside; outside a simple solitary fountain is the center of the courtyard. I had only 15 minutes before they closed so I didn’t take too many pictures.

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If you go through the church and out the side door you will find this garden with a beautiful statue of Mary, Mother of God as you enter.

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She stands watch over the “Bob Hope Memorial Garden!”

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Bob Hope, his wife, his parents and his niece are buried there!

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Bet you didn’t know that. Yeah, neither did I.

Happy Monday.

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