‘Salute to Heroes’ program pays tribute to veterans
With music, dancing and words, performers and celebrity speakers paid tribute Monday night at the Lied Center to the “Greatest Generation.”
But the focus of “Salute to Heroes: An Evening to Remember” was clearly on one hero — former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole.
“This is Bob Dole’s program tonight — his show,” said George McGovern, a former U.S. senator and the 1972 Democratic presidential nominee.
The speeches and re-created USO show, part of the events surrounding the Dole Institute of Politics dedication, drew 2,100 people to the Lied Center. Kansas University officials estimated another 2,000 came to watch the show on a two-story video board outside, but many left after a rainstorm during the show’s first half.
The Dole Institute, which will house Dole’s papers and serve as a site for political programs and discussions, will be dedicated at 10:30 a.m. today, Dole’s 80th birthday.
Tributes aplenty
The first half of the program paid homage to Dole. One after one, a cast of big-name speakers gave their regards to the former senator and other veterans in the audience:
l “Bob Dole represents you and what you’ve all contributed,” former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani told the veterans.
l Nancy Kassebaum Baker, former U.S. senator from Kansas, said she saw how Dole’s military service affected his political life. “I realized how this had shaped his determination and dedication in giving his best to his country,” she said.
l Kassebaum Baker’s husband, Howard Baker, U.S. ambassador to Japan, said he respected Dole as a politician. “But I understand him mostly as a great American,” Baker said.
A crowd gathers outside the Dole Institute of Politics at Kansas University to watch a USO-Style show on a large video screen. The sold-out show was presented Monday night at the Lied Center as part of dedication events.
l “He and I have not agreed on everything politically,” McGovern said, “but we’ve always agreed the other was worthy of confidence and respect.”
l Dole’s wife, Elizabeth, said Gen. George Marshall once said the American secret weapon in World War II was that the United States had “the best darn kids in the world.” “I’m blessed to have spent the last 28 years with one of those kids,” Elizabeth Dole said.
When Bob Dole finally came on stage, he said he felt like he’d been eulogized. “I’m not even dead yet, and all these nice things (are) being said,” Dole said.
But as he has done throughout the dedication events, Dole deflected the praise away from himself and toward other veterans.
“We’re here tonight not to talk about Bob Dole but to honor all the great veterans,” he said. “My war is their war. My story is their story. We’re all the same.”
Members of the 4's Company Quartet surround former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole and playfully serenade him with It
Veteran tribute
The speeches also commemorated the other World War II veterans in attendance.
Tom Brokaw, NBC News anchor who coined the term the “Greatest Generation” in his book by the same title, said the people who came of age in the 1940s deserved to enjoy better economic times after the Great Depression. Instead, the fought World War II.
“They were asked — not just asked but ordered — to go across the Atlantic and across the Pacific to fight the greatest war in the history of the world and to save the world from the twin regimes of fanaticism in east and west,” Brokaw said.
“When they came home, they began to build the country we have today.”
Former President Jimmy Carter, who served on a submarine during World War II, asked Medal of Honor winners in attendance to stand to honor them. He also read letters from his military days he sent home to his wife, Rosalyn. One, dated Jan. 18, 1949, came after the Navy had sent notice to notify wives of servicemen that the submarine Carter was serving aboard couldn’t be located. They later found the submarine.
“I guess you know by now you’re not a beautiful young widow,” he wrote to open the letter.
Fun times
Though the speeches echoed with tributes to World War II veterans, the speeches weren’t void of some good-natured fun. Carter started to refer to Dole as “President Dole,” then caught himself to say “Senator Dole.”
Jack Kemp, Dole’s 1996 vice-presidential running mate, also took a poke at Dole.
“My wife and I were thrilled to be part of the Bob Dole ticket in 1996,” Kemp said. “That was until Bob just told me he wished he’d picked Tiger Woods.”
6News video: Laser show lights up the night skyThe second half of the program featured 1940s-era music, including “Thanks for the Memories” and “Swing, Swing, Swing.” The 4’s Company Quartet surrounded Dole and playfully sang, “It Had to Be You” before Elizabeth Dole came to pull him away from the women.
Floyd Smith, Baldwin, said the show made him feel appreciated. Smith, 82, served in the Army during World War II.
“It’s nice to know you’ve done something that made a difference,” he said. “I was way behind the front lines. The guys up front deserve the credit.”
Light show
After the three-hour show, Dole exited the Lied Center to activate a three-minute laser light show on the front of the Dole Institute.
A laser light show paints the Dole Institute of Politics in an array of colors to cap the events Monday evening.
Fern Turner, Miltonvale, an Army veteran, was among the group who came out to watch the laser light show.
“I thought it was a little short, but it was really nice,” he said.
After the laser light show, Dole spoke briefly to the crowd.
“We had a good day, a lot of good events,” Dole said. “All I can say is thank you and God bless America.”
— Staff writer Mike Belt contributed information to this report.
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