Bob Hope will be turning 100 on the 29th of May, and it made me wonder whether it would be possible, if he desired, for him to be buried in Arlington National Cemetary. I don’t believe he ever served officially in the military, but I would be hard pressed to think of someone who has done more for our military over the years than Hope.
Does anyone know what the requirements are? Are there loopholes/exceptions?
Ricky
There can be exceptions & Presidential waivers, but it is “holy ground” for the military, so a Prez must be careful. However, I think that Hope would be almost universally welcomed in Arlington by vets (IMO, of course).
Of course, for a Democratic administration, all it takes is a wad of cash & your “word” that you served in the merchant marines & the admin won’t even check, but will fight for your placement – until they’re found out, of course.
Donnah
Even having served in the military won’t get you in.
Here’s the link to the official site: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/text/index_funeral_information_text.html
Andrew Lazarus
Ricky, I don’t think the resume fraud you refer to is limited to Democrats. I’ve seen several conservatives pretend to be in the military, including one of the leaders of the anti-anti-Iraq movement. (I think he quit.) Hasn’t the military lost a lot of WW2 records to fire?
Ricky
Nothing’s “limited” to one side, Andrew. It’s just that the last one defended Larry Lawrence’s record on “his word”…..then dug him up when they got caught.
BTW, #6:
http://www.rjwest.com/mtarchives/attempted_humor/001335.html#001335
John Yuda
Ah, yes, of course. You know you’ve won an argument with the left when they have the audacity to present facts.
Back to topic, though: Bob Hope could get in easily if somebody who’s en route to a plot gave it up, I believe.
I’m inclined to think that Mr. Hope wouldn’t want to be there, though. He’d probably find it as being presumptuous on his on part.
Frank DiSalle
Bob Hope has already been named an Honorary Veteran by Congress see
http://www.fra.org/navalaffairs/9712/na9712c.html
Surely they could legislate an exception for him, of all people, to be buried at Arlington.
Seth
I think it’d be a political no-brainer and a good idea. If nothing else, he’s probably the luckiest man alive – what other human being has been in virtually every combat zone in the world since 1940?