Medal
of Honor Recipient and Congressional Medal of Honor Society President
Harold A. Fritz (second from left) presents The Oak Ridge Boys with the
society’s Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment.
Photo by: Tommy Lawson Photography
NASHVILLE,
Tenn. (August 11, 2015) – After five GRAMMY Awards, nine GMA Dove
Awards, an induction into The Grand Ole Opry and a forthcoming induction
into the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Oak Ridge Boys have been
presented with yet another distinction — the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment
by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society – recognizing their work
with The American Legion. The group accepted the award on August 8 at
the Nashville Salutes Gala surrounded by 25 Medal of Honor recipients.
In September 2014, The Oak Ridge Boys joined forces with The American
Legion to help raise awareness and support for better detection and
treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder among U.S. military
servicemen and women, and veterans. Through the partnership, The Oak
Ridge Boys have also assisted with improving the VA benefits process, as
well as the education and career opportunities that are available to
veterans once they return to civilian life.
The Nashville Salutes Gala honored 25 living recipients of the Medal
of Honor and served as a catalyst for the Middle Tennessee Character
Development Program (CDP), whose goal is to develop the values required
of every citizen among the youth of America. At the conclusion of the
CDP presentation The Oak Ridge Boys took the stage and sang a heartfelt
rendition of “Thank God for Kids.”
The award, named after famed entertainer Bob Hope and the work he
performed to start the USO Tours, was conceived to honor entertainers
who have demonstrated a commitment to the U.S. military through film,
literature or music. Past recipients include Billy Ray Cyrus, Mark
Wahlberg, Tom Selleck and Trace Adkins, among others.
ABOUT THE OAK RIDGE BOYS
The Oak Ridge Boys, who have sold over 41 million units worldwide,
are synonymous with “America, apple pie, baseball and gospel and country
music.” In addition to their awards and accolades in the country and
pop music fields, they have garnered five GRAMMY® Awards and nine GMA
DOVE Awards as well as the Mainstream Artist of the Year Award at the
ICM Awards. They are members of the GMA Hall of Fame as well as The
Grand Ole Opry, and they are recipients of the President’s Award from
the Southern Gospel Music Guild.
Photo by: Tommy Lawson Photography