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106-787: The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (informally known as Punchbowl Cemetery ) is a national cemetery located at Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu , Hawaii . It serves as a memorial to honor those men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces , and those who have been killed in doing so. It is administered by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and

212-712: A LEED silver rating by the US Green Building Council . The project was awarded to Nan Inc by the Department of Veterans Affairs for $ 25,100,445. The cemetery is currently undergoing a major construction project to build additional columbarium space. During the Civil War , the U.S. government feared for the sanctity of the graves of fallen Union soldiers and issued General Orders No. 33, of April 3, 1862, Moving to give federal protection to Union grave sites pushing The Act of July 17, 1862, which gave

318-438: A Bloodshot Eye , quoted Godfrey as having once told cast and staffers, "Remember that many of you are here over the bodies I have personally slain. I have done it before and I can do it again." Julius La Rosa claimed in an interview with writer Gene Lees it occurred during what were referred to as Wednesday night “prayer meetings” held after that night’s show to start preparing for the next week’s. Godfrey also demanded, though there

424-449: A classic example had him referring to Bayer Aspirin as "bare ass prin"), interviewing guests, and even reading news reports during his three-hour shift. Godfrey loved to sing, and would frequently sing random verses during the "talk" portions of his program. In 1937, he was a host on Professor Quiz , radio's first successful quiz program. One surviving broadcast from 1939 has Godfrey unexpectedly turning on his microphone to harmonize with

530-937: A great deal of pressure on the military to find a permanent burial site in Hawaii for the remains of thousands of World War II servicemen on the island of Guam awaiting permanent burial. Subsequently, the Army again began planning the Punchbowl cemetery. In February 1948, Congress approved funding and construction began on the national cemetery. Since the cemetery was dedicated on September 2, 1949, approximately 53,000 World War II , Korean War , and Vietnam War veterans and their dependents have been interred. The cemetery now almost exclusively accepts cremated remains for above-ground placement in columbaria ; casketed and cremated remains of eligible family members of those already interred there may, however, be considered for burial. Prior to

636-493: A late morning staple on the CBS Radio Network schedule until 1972. Two radio monologues proved to be audience favorites and were rebroadcast on several occasions by popular demand, and later on his television show. They were "What is a Boy?" and a follow-up, "What is a Girl?" With the skilled addition of sentimental music, both monologues captured the essence of what made parents love their children, fondly describing

742-437: A level of trust from his audience, a belief that "if Godfrey said it, it must be so." When he quit smoking after his 1953 hip surgery, he began speaking out on the air against smoking, to the displeasure of longtime sponsor Chesterfield. When he stood his ground, the company withdrew as a sponsor in early 1954. Godfrey shrugged off their departure since he knew other sponsors would easily fill the vacancy. Eventually Godfrey added

848-725: A management position as the show's talent coordinator. Three notable acts rejected for the show were Buddy Holly , the Four Freshmen , and Elvis Presley . Following his appearances on the Louisiana Hayride , Presley traveled to New York for an unsuccessful Talent Scouts audition in April 1955. After the Talent Scouts staff rejected the Orioles , they went on to have a hit record with their version of " Crying in

954-462: A marked decline in his popularity which he was never able to overcome. Over the following two years, Godfrey fired over twenty additional cast and crew members, under similar circumstances, for which he was heavily attacked by the press and public alike. A self-made man, Godfrey was fiercely competitive; some of his employees were fired for merely speaking with those he considered to be competitors, like Ed Sullivan , or for signing with an agent . By

1060-564: A mention in Time . In 1958, at the age of 78, her sauciness made her a big hit with the audience when she appeared on Groucho Marx 's quiz show You Bet Your Life . She died of cancer in 1968 at a nursing home in a suburb north of Chicago. Godfrey served in the Navy from 1920 to 1924 as a radio operator on naval destroyers , then returned home to care for the family after his father's death. Additional radio training came during Godfrey's service in

1166-402: A national cemetery in 2020—one of 11 cemeteries transferred from the Army to NCA in 2019–2020 per Exec. Order No. 13781, 2017. Arthur Godfrey Arthur Morton Godfrey (August 31, 1903 – March 16, 1983) was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer. At the peak of his success, in the early to mid-1950s, Godfrey was heard on radio and seen on television up to six days

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1272-501: A nostalgic movie documentary, Fifty Years Before Your Eyes , produced for Warner Brothers by silent-film anthologist Robert Youngson . Godfrey had been in pain since the 1931 car crash that damaged his hip. In 1953, he underwent pioneering hip replacement surgery in Boston using an early plastic artificial hip joint. The operation was successful and he returned to the show to the delight of his vast audience. During his recovery, CBS

1378-483: A number of public service announcements to be played on American television in the case of nuclear war . It was thought that viewers would be reassured by Godfrey's grandfatherly tone and folksy manner. The existence of the PSA recordings was confirmed in 2004 by former CBS president Dr. Frank Stanton in an exchange with a writer with the web site Conelrad. Godfrey learned to fly in 1929 while working in broadcast radio in

1484-447: A radio announcer for Baltimore station WFBR (now WJZ (AM) ), then moved to Washington, D.C., to become a staff announcer for NBC -owned station WRC the same year. He remained there until 1934. Recovering from a near-fatal automobile accident en route to a flying lesson in 1931 (he was already an avid flyer), he decided to listen closely to the radio and realized that the stiff, formal style then used by announcers could not connect with

1590-554: A small appropriation to establish a national cemetery in Honolulu with two provisions: that the location be acceptable to the War Department, and that the site would be donated rather than purchased. In 1943, the governor of Hawaii offered the Punchbowl for this purpose. The $ 50,000 appropriation proved insufficient, however, and the project was deferred until after World War II. By 1947, Congress and veteran organizations placed

1696-574: A studio at his Virginia farm outside of Washington, D.C., and TV cameras were unable to transmit live pictures of him and his New York cast at the same time. Godfrey's skills as a commercial pitchman brought him a large number of loyal sponsors, including Lipton Tea, Frigidaire , Pillsbury cake mixes and Liggett & Myers 's Chesterfield cigarettes . By 1959, total advertising billings from Godfrey's TV shows were estimated at an industry-high $ 150 million, almost double those of second-place Ed Sullivan . Godfrey found that one way to enhance his pitches

1802-586: A temporary military cemetery near Hungnam , North Korea. During Operation Glory , which occurred from July to November 1954, the dead of each side were exchanged; remains of 4,167 US soldiers/Marines were exchanged for 13,528 North Korean/Chinese dead. In addition 546 civilians who died in United Nations prisoner of war camps were turned over to the South Korean Government. After "Operation Glory" 416 Korean War "unknowns" were buried in

1908-610: A total of twelve Unknowns have been identified—three from World War II; eight from Korean War; one from Vietnam. In 2011 remains returned in 2000 were identified. On December 17, 2022, at 12:00 pm, the Women's Marines Association HI-2 Wahine Koa Chapter will be helping the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) to Remember and Honor our veterans by laying Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes. WMA HI-2 Wahine Koa Chapter sponsors

2014-579: A week, at times for as many as nine separate broadcasts for CBS . His programs included Arthur Godfrey Time (Monday-Friday mornings on radio and television), Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (Monday evenings on radio and television), Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (Wednesday evenings on television), The Arthur Godfrey Digest (Friday evenings on radio) and King Arthur Godfrey and His Round Table (Sunday afternoons on radio). The infamous on-air firing of cast member Julius La Rosa in 1953 tainted Godfrey's down-to-earth, family-man image and resulted in

2120-499: A weekend "best of" program culled from the week's Arthur Godfrey Time , known as Arthur Godfrey Digest . He began to veer away from interviewing stars in favor of a small group of regular performers that became known as the "Little Godfreys". Many of these artists were relatively obscure, but were given colossal national exposure, some of them former Talent Scouts winners, including Hawaiian vocalist Haleloke , veteran Irish tenor Frank Parker , Marion Marlowe and Julius La Rosa , who

2226-600: A weekly informal variety show, began on CBS-TV in prime time. His affable personality combined warmth, heart, and occasional bits of double entendre repartee, such as his remark when the show went on location: "Well, here we are in Miami Bitch. Hehheh." Godfrey received adulation from fans who felt that despite his considerable wealth, he was really "one of them", his personality that of a friendly next-door-neighbor. His ability to sell products, insisting he would not promote any in which he did not personally believe, gave him

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2332-442: A whirlwind nightclub tour later that same month. Godfrey later claimed he had given La Rosa a release from his contract that the singer had personally requested. Godfrey, however, provided no evidence to support that contention. After his 1953 hospitalization broke his smoking habit, he had concluded that smoking was not beneficial and very likely harmful, a total reverse from his earlier commercials. His once-friendly rapport with

2438-480: Is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Millions of visitors visit the cemetery each year, and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hawaii. Punchbowl Crater was formed some 75,000 to 100,000 years ago during the Honolulu period of secondary volcanic activity. A crater resulted from the ejection of hot lava through cracks in the old coral reefs which, at the time, extended to

2544-425: Is probable that a combination of these factors led to Godfrey's decision to discharge La Rosa. Godfrey very likely did not expect the public backlash that followed, a result of the incident running directly counter to Godfrey's solicitous, paternal image. The La Rosa incident was the beginning of an era of controversy that enveloped Godfrey, gradually destroyed his folksy image, and diminished his popularity. La Rosa's

2650-408: Is reported to represent all grieving mothers. She stands on the bow of a ship holding a laurel branch. The inscription below the statue, taken from Abraham Lincoln 's letter to Mrs. Bixby , reads: The statue is featured in the opening sequence of both the 1970s television series Hawaii Five-O and its 2010 remake . The latter series has also filmed at the cemetery several times—John McGarrett,

2756-491: Is the CBS Radio Network". La Rosa, who did not know what the phrase "swan song" meant, was incredulous when told he had just been fired, since he had not been informed beforehand of his termination, and contract renegotiations had not yet taken place. Radio historian Gerald Nachman , claims in Raised on Radio that what truly angered Godfrey about his now-former protegé was that La Rosa's fan mail had come to exceed Godfrey's. It

2862-885: The American Battle Monuments Commission ; the others are the East Coast Memorial to the Missing of World War II in New York and the West Coast Memorial to the Missing of World War II in San Francisco . The dedication stone at the base of staircase is engraved with the following words: At the top of the staircase in the Court of Honor is a statue of Lady Columbia , also known as Lady Liberty, or Justice. Here she

2968-673: The Coast Guard from 1927 to 1930. He passed a stringent qualifying examination and was admitted to the prestigious Radio Materiel School at the Naval Research Laboratory , graduating in 1929. During a Coast Guard stint in Baltimore he appeared in a local talent show broadcast on October 5 of that year and became popular enough to land his own brief weekly program. On leaving the Coast Guard, Godfrey became

3074-579: The Everly Brothers and Andy Williams . Bleyer himself never commented publicly on the rift with Godfrey. La Rosa’s firing did not sit well with his fans. LaRosa went on the offensive by holding a press conference with his agent. On October 21, with public animosity towards Godfrey steadily rising, Godfrey announced the firings of La Rosa and Bleyer had been due to their "outside activities". While praising La Rosa, Godfrey added he felt that La Rosa had lost his "humility". Almost instantly, Godfrey and

3180-583: The NBC Blue Network (later ABC ) since Godfrey's days at WJSV. Despite the far more modest following of the McNeill show, Godfrey still felt Breyer had been disloyal. According to Godfrey, a meeting between Bleyer and Godfrey immediately following La Rosa's dismissal revealed Bleyer was unconcerned about the matter. He claimed Bleyer simply shrugged off the dismissal and focused on developing Cadence, which found significant success with hit records by

3286-564: The Playhouse Theatre , with Maureen O'Sullivan . In 1948, Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts began to be simultaneously broadcast on radio and television, and by 1952, Arthur Godfrey Time also appeared on both media. The radio version ran an hour and a half; the TV version an hour, later expanded to an hour and a half. The Friday shows were heard on radio only, because at the end of the week, Godfrey traditionally broadcast his portion from

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3392-612: The United States Air Force , who later successfully recruited him into the Air Force Reserve. At one time during the 1950s, Godfrey had flown every active aircraft in the military inventory. His continued unpaid promotion of Eastern Air Lines earned him the undying gratitude of good friend Eddie Rickenbacker , the World War I flying ace who was the president of the airline. He was such a good friend of

3498-527: The United States Navy . Godfrey used his pervasive fame to advocate a strong anti-Communist stance and to pitch for enhanced strategic air power in the Cold War atmosphere. In addition to his advocacy for civil rights, he became a strong promoter of his middle-class fans' vacationing in Hawaii and Miami Beach, Florida , formerly enclaves for the wealthy. In Hawaii, he helped raise funds for

3604-498: The "Coronation" carillon installed at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in 1956. He made a television movie in 1953, taking the controls of an Eastern Air Lines Lockheed Constellation airliner and flying to Miami, thus showing how safe airline travel had become. As a reserve officer, he used his public position to cajole the Navy into qualifying him as a Naval Aviator, and played that against

3710-455: The Army maintains two national cemeteries, Arlington National Cemetery and United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery . The National Park Service (NPS) maintains 14 national cemeteries associated with historic sites and battlefields. The American Battle Monuments Commission , an independent agency of the executive branch, established by Congress in 1923, maintains 26 American military cemeteries and other memorials outside

3816-659: The Chapel " (a cover of the song by Darrell Glenn , written by his father, Artie, and a subsequent hit for Presley as well). That success kicked off the "bird group" trend of early rock 'n' roll. Godfrey was also an avid amateur radio operator , with the station call sign K4LIB. He was a member of the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in the radio division. Beginning in January 1950, another Godfrey program on CBS Radio, Arthur Godfrey's Digest ,

3922-467: The Chinese border. In 2008, a total of 63 were identified (26 World War II; 19 Korea; 18 Vietnam) (Among those identified: January 2008 remains of a Michigan soldier. In March 2008, remains of an Indiana soldier and an Ohio soldier were identified). According to a report June 24, 2008, of 10 Korean War remains disinterred from the "Punchbowl Cemetery" six have been identified. From January to April 2009,

4028-484: The Foursome's recording of " There'll Be Some Changes Made ". Godfrey was eager to remain connected with the Navy, but found his hip injuries rendered him unsuitable for military service. He knew President Franklin D. Roosevelt , who listened to his Washington program, and through Roosevelt's intercession, he received a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve before World War II . He would participate in exercises around

4134-523: The Great, a battery of two cannons was mounted at the rim of the crater to salute distinguished arrivals and signify important occasions. Early in the 1880s, leasehold land on the slopes of the Punchbowl opened for settlement and in the 1930s, the crater was used as a rifle range for the Hawaii National Guard . Toward the end of World War II , tunnels were dug through the rim of the crater for

4240-656: The Korean War". The memorial was later expanded in 1980 to include the Vietnam War. The names of 28,788 military personnel who are missing in action or were lost or buried at sea in the Pacific during these conflicts are listed on marble slabs in ten Courts of the Missing which flank the Memorial's grand stone staircase. The Honolulu Memorial is one of three war memorials in the United States administered by

4346-532: The Liggett & Myers tobacco company ended as he spoke out on the air against smoking. The Teterboro Airport incident in January 1954 kept Godfrey's image negative in the media. Godfrey subsequently fired other producers, writers, and cast members including Marion Marlowe , Lu Ann Simms , Haleloke, and The Mariners . The integrated quartet (two members of the foursome were African-American) believed Godfrey had acceded to continued criticism from CBS affiliates in

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4452-577: The Mariners barbershop quartet. This group of four US Coast Guard veterans included two whites and two blacks. Godfrey resisted criticism from network affiliates in Southern states and struck back. He noted that black and white troops were serving together in the Korean War , and he attacked critics including Democratic Georgia Governor Herman Talmadge . Godfrey's opposition to racial discrimination

4558-485: The Pacific was the first such cemetery to install Bicentennial Medal of Honor headstones, the medal insignia being defined in gold leaf. On May 11, 1976, a total of 23 of these were placed on the graves of medal recipients, all but one of whom were killed in action. In August 2001, about 70 generic "Unknown" markers for the graves of men known to have died during the attack on Pearl Harbor were replaced with markers that included USS  Arizona  (BB-39) after it

4664-566: The President the authority, “whenever in his opinion it shall be expedient, to purchase cemetery grounds and cause them to be securely enclosed, to be used as a national cemetery for the soldiers who shall die in the service of the country. To further protect the sites of fallen heroes congress approves of the "Reburial Program" on April 13, 1866, stating the Secretary of War is hereby authorized and required to take immediate measures to preserve

4770-511: The Punchbowl Cemetery. According to one report, 1,394 names were also transmitted during "Operation Glory" from the Chinese and North Koreans (of which 858 names proved to be correct); of the 4,167 returned remains were found to be 4,219 individuals of whom 2,944 were found to be Americans of whom all but 416 were identified by name. Of 239 Korean War unaccounted for: 186 not associated with Punchbowl unknowns (176 were identified and of

4876-455: The South over the group's presence on the show. Pat Boone and Carmel Quinn joined the cast for a time. But any thoughts of Godfrey curtailing the fired cast members' network-television exposure backfired somewhat when they continued to perform for Godfrey's substitute host, Robert Q. Lewis , who at that point had his own afternoon show on CBS. Occasionally, Godfrey snapped at cast members on

4982-452: The United States to take title to any national cemeteries where the States had given their consent, and on May 18, 1872, by an Act authorizing the Secretary of War to appoint superintendents. Still, more action was needed such as The Yosemite and Yellowstone Acts (1889,90), The Lacy Act (1900), The Antiquities Act (1906), and The Organic Act (1916) which leads to President Woodrow Wilson signing

5088-797: The United States. Twelve national cemeteries were established in 1862. A total of 34 were established during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. Additional cemeteries were set up after the United States Civil War by Edmund Burke Whitman . Congress passed additional laws to establish and protect national cemeteries in 1867. The National Cemetery Administration lists a total of 73 Civil War-Era National Cemeteries from 1861 to 1868. Final military honors are provided for qualified Veterans by volunteer veteran or National Guard details known as Memorial Honor Details (MHD), upon application by family members through their choice of mortuary handling

5194-695: The Washington area. Godfrey eventually moved his base to the CBS station in New York City, then known as WABC (later WCBS, now WHSQ), and was heard on both WJSV and WABC for a time. In the autumn of 1942, he also became the announcer for Fred Allen 's Texaco Star Theater show on the CBS network, but a personality conflict between Allen and Godfrey led to his early release from the show after only six weeks. Godfrey became nationally known in April 1945 when, as CBS's morning-radio man in Washington, he took

5300-406: The Washington, D.C., area, starting with gliders, then learning to fly airplanes. He was badly injured on his way to a flying lesson one afternoon in 1931 when an oncoming truck lost its left front wheel and hit him head on. Godfrey spent months recuperating, and the injury kept him from flying on active duty during World War II. He served in a public affairs role during the war as a reserve officer in

5406-639: The act creating the National Park Service , a new federal bureau in the Department of the Interior on August 25, 1916, which encompasses all locations protected by the previous acts. The National Park Service has managed national cemeteries since 1972 and all were transferred from the War Department to the Department of the Interior by Executive Order 6228 of July 28, 1933. After their retreat in 1950, dead soldiers and Marines were buried at

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5512-438: The air and suggested firing him the same way. Whether Stanton intended this to occur after Godfrey spoke with La Rosa and his manager about the singer's future on the program, or whether Stanton suggested Godfrey actually fire La Rosa on air without warning, is unknown. Soon after the firings, Stanton conceded "maybe this was a mistake". On October 19, 1953, near the end of his morning radio show – deliberately waiting until after

5618-449: The air, occasionally by name, even including CBS chairman William S. Paley . Godfrey's attitude was controlling before his hiatus for hip surgery, but upon his return, he added more air time to his morning shows and became critical of a number of aspects of the broadcasts. One night, he substituted a shortened, hastily arranged version of his Wednesday night variety show in place of the scheduled "Talent Scouts" segment, feeling that none of

5724-401: The air. He began to play a baritone ukulele . Over time, tutored by the band's guitarist Remo Palmier , Godfrey's playing took a decidedly jazzy quality. Palmier, a top Manhattan studio guitarist, was also a respected jazz guitarist and the only one of Godfrey's musicians to remain with the show from its 1945 debut until the final 1972 broadcast. In 1947, Godfrey had a surprise hit record with

5830-417: The airline that Rickenbacker took a retiring Douglas DC-3 , fitted it out with an executive interior and DC-4 engines, and presented it to Godfrey, who then used it to commute to the studios in New York City from his huge Leesburg, Virginia , farm every Sunday night. In January 1954, Godfrey buzzed the control tower of Teterboro Airport in his DC-3. His certificate was suspended for six months. He claimed

5936-431: The average radio listener. The announcers spoke in stentorian tones, as if giving a formal speech to a crowd and not communicating on a personal level. Godfrey vowed that when he returned to the airwaves, he would affect a relaxed, informal style as if he were talking to just one person. He also used that style to do his own commercials and became a regional star. Over time, he added wisecracks to his commercials and would kid

6042-486: The carton"; he terminated his relationship with the company after he quit smoking, five years before he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1959. He later became a prominent spokesman for the anti-tobacco movement . Godfrey was born in Manhattan in 1903 to Arthur Hanbury Godfrey and Kathryn Morton Godfrey. His mother was from a well-to-do Oswego, New York , family, which disapproved of her marriage. An older Englishman,

6148-511: The commercials frequently enhanced the sales of the sponsor's products. His popularity and ability to sell brought a windfall to CBS , accounting for a significant percentage of their corporate profits. While his willingness to mock the scripted commercials provided to him by sponsors' ad agencies angered those agencies, the sponsors, concerned only with improving their sales, were happy to let Godfrey tear apart those scripts (even physically on occasion). In 1949, Arthur Godfrey and His Friends ,

6254-480: The deceased. *Please note that the year listed is the official date of establishment listed by the VA. This may differ from the year of the first burial, the oldest remains, the year the land was acquired, etc. Many post cemeteries have been given national cemetery status as late as 2020, which is considerably later than the original cemetery. For example, Vancouver Barracks post cemetery was established in 1849 and became

6360-502: The event annually to honor and remember as many fallen heroes as possible by sponsoring remembrance wreaths and volunteering on Wreaths Day. Wreaths can be sponsored by donating at Wreaths Across America . In 1964, the American Battle Monuments Commission erected the Honolulu Memorial at the National Memorial Cemetery "to honor the sacrifices and achievements of American Armed Forces in the Pacific during World War II and in

6466-606: The family to get through some very hard times. She played the piano to accompany silent films , made jams and jellies, crocheted bedspreads, and even cut off and sold her long hair, as it was extremely difficult for a woman of her social class to find work without violating social mores of the time. The one household item that was never sold was the piano, and she believed at least some of her children would succeed in show business. In her later years some of her compositions were performed by symphony orchestras in Canada, which earned her

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6572-604: The father of lead character Steve McGarrett, is a Vietnam War veteran and is buried there. United States national cemetery The National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maintains 148 national cemeteries as well as the Nationwide Grave-site Locator , which can be used to find burial locations of American military Veterans through their searchable website. The Department of

6678-497: The financial burden on his family. A year later he was a civilian typist at Camp Merritt, New Jersey , and enlisted in the United States Navy at 17, lying about his age. Godfrey's father was something of a " free thinker " by the standards of the era. He did not disdain organized religion but insisted that his children explore all faiths before deciding for themselves which to embrace. Their childhood included friends of Catholic, Jewish and various Protestant faiths. The senior Godfrey

6784-505: The foot of the Ko'olau Mountain Range . Although there are various translations of the Punchbowl's Hawaiian name, "Puowaina," the most common is "Hill of Sacrifice." This translation closely relates to the history of the crater. The first known use was as an altar where Hawaiians offered human sacrifices to pagan gods and the killed violators of the many taboos. Later, during the reign of Kamehameha

6890-468: The graves at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific were marked with white wooden crosses and Stars of David —like the American cemeteries abroad—in preparation for the dedication ceremony on the fourth anniversary of V-J Day . Eventually, over 13,000 soldiers and sailors who died during World War II would be laid to rest in the Punchbowl. Despite the Army's extensive efforts to inform the public that

6996-407: The graves of soldiers of the United States who fell in battle and secure suitable burial places in which they may be properly interred; and to have the grounds enclosed, so that the resting-places of the honored dead may be kept sacred forever followed on February 22, 1867, with an “Act to establish and to protect National Cemeteries.” This was followed on July 1, 1870, by an Act of Congress authorizing

7102-681: The highly varied personality traits of each child as the monologue progressed. Each monologue struck a chord with everyone who heard it. "What is a Boy?" in particular proved to be so popular that it was released as one of Godfrey's records, which he issued on Columbia Records (Record no. 39487) in the summer of 1951, with "What is a Girl?" on the B-side of the record. It reached the top of the Billboard charts in August 1951, one of several successful records Godfrey released between 1947 and 1952. Godfrey

7208-421: The late 1950s, his presence had been reduced to hosting his daily CBS radio show, which ended in 1972, and the occasional television special. Sometimes introduced by his nickname “The Old Redhead”, Godfrey was strongly identified with many of his commercial sponsors, especially Chesterfield cigarettes and Lipton Tea . He advertised Chesterfield for many years, during which time he devised the slogan "Buy 'em by

7314-614: The members and officers of the military. The design-build project of this national cemetery consisted of many improvements both inside and outside including construction of the Memorial Wall, replacement of columbarium caps at courts 1–5 inside the cemetery, demolishing the existing Administration and PIC building, construction of Columbarium Court 13, which included 6,860 columbarium niches, repair of existing roadways, and replacement of existing signage, followed by site furnishing, landscaping, irrigation, and site utilities and achieving

7420-563: The microphone for a live, firsthand account of President Roosevelt's funeral procession. The entire CBS network picked up the broadcast, later preserved in the Edward R. Murrow and Fred W. Friendly record series, I Can Hear it Now . Unlike the tight-lipped news reporters and commentators of the day, who delivered news in an earnest, businesslike manner, Godfrey's tone was sympathetic and neighborly, lending immediacy and intimacy to his words. When identifying new President Harry S. Truman 's car in

7526-548: The novelty " Too Fat Polka (She's Too Fat For Me) " written by Ross MacLean and Arthur Richardson. The song reached number two in the US charts and its popularity led to the Andrews Sisters recording a version adapted to the women's point-of-view. In general, Godfrey despised most of his novelty recordings, including "Too Fat Polka", which was his biggest-selling record with over one million copies sold. Godfrey's morning show

7632-547: The opening of the cemetery for the recently deceased, the remains of soldiers from locations around the Pacific Theater—including Guam, Wake Island , and Japanese POW camps—were transported to Hawaii for final interment. The first interment was made January 4, 1949. The cemetery opened to the public on July 19, 1949, with services for five war dead: an unknown serviceman, two Marines, an Army lieutenant and one noted civilian war correspondent Ernie Pyle . Initially,

7738-469: The pathway. Additional memorials can be found throughout the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific—most commemorating soldiers of 20th-century wars, including those killed at Pearl Harbor. In 2015, Congress allotted $ 25 million in funds for improvements, maintenance and expansion of the cemetery. The goal was to make the cemetery worth visiting for both tourists and local as well as highly advanced for

7844-462: The performers to the broadcast and introduce them to Godfrey on the air. Two acts from the same 1948 broadcast were Wally Cox and the Chordettes . Both were big hits that night, and both were signed to recording contracts. Godfrey took special interest in the Chordettes, who sang his kind of barbershop-quartet harmony, and he soon made them part of his broadcasting and recording "family". Godfrey

7950-464: The phrase "no humility" became the butt of many comedians' jokes. In November 1953 singer-songwriter Ruth Wallis , renowned for her double-entendre "party records", wrote and recorded a topical novelty song, "Dear Mr. Godfrey", with the pointed lyric "hire me and fire me and make a star of me." The record, self-published by Wallis, was an immediate sensation, selling more than 100,000 copies during its first 10 days of release, and launching Wallis on

8056-437: The placement of shore batteries to guard Honolulu Harbor and the south edge of Pearl Harbor . During the late 1890s, a committee recommended that the Punchbowl become the site for a new cemetery to accommodate the growing population of Honolulu. The idea was rejected for fear of polluting the water supply and the emotional aversion to creating a city of the dead above a city of the living. Fifty years later, Congress authorized

8162-403: The practice because his own physical limitations made him sensitive to the need for physical coordination on camera. "Godfrey", Metz wrote, "was concerned about his cast in his paternalistic way". Godfrey and La Rosa had a dispute in the fall of 1953, when La Rosa, the most popular of the "Little Godfreys", missed a dance lesson due to a "family emergency". He claimed he had advised Godfrey, but

8268-586: The procession, Godfrey fervently said, in a choked voice, "God bless him, President Truman." Godfrey broke down in tears and cued the listeners back to the studio. The entire nation was moved by his emotional outburst. CBS gave Arthur Godfrey his own morning time slot on the nationwide network. Arthur Godfrey Time was a Monday–Friday show that featured his monologues, interviews with various stars, music from his own in-house combo, and regular vocalists. Godfrey's monologues and discussions were usually unscripted, and went wherever he chose. Arthur Godfrey Time remained

8374-407: The remaining 10 cases four were non-Americans of Asiatic descent; one was British; three were identified and two cases unconfirmed). Fifty-seven years after the Korean War, remains of two of the "Punchbowl unknowns" were identified—both from the 1st Marine Division . One was Pfc. Donald Morris Walker of Support Company/1st Service Battalion/1st Marine Division who was KIA December 7, 1950 and the other

8480-435: The senior Godfrey was a sportswriter and considered an expert on surrey and hackney horses, but the advent of the automobile devastated the family's finances. By 1915, when Arthur was 12, the family had moved to Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey . Godfrey dropped out after a single year at Hasbrouck Heights High School . The eldest of five children, he worked before and after school at an early age, and left home at 14 to ease

8586-509: The show, Tony Marvin. Godfrey preferred his performers not to use personal managers or agents, but often had his staff represent the artists if they were doing personal appearances, which allowed him considerable control over their careers and incomes. In 1953, after La Rosa hired an agent, Godfrey was so angry that he fired him on the air. Godfrey was one of the busiest men in the entertainment industry, often presiding over several daytime and evening radio and TV shows simultaneously. (Even busier

8692-450: The sponsors approved, given their added sales, the agencies were powerless to stop him. In addition to announcing, Godfrey sang and played the ukulele . In 1934 he became a freelance entertainer, but eventually based himself on a daily show titled Sundial on CBS -owned station WJSV (later WTOP and now WFED ) in Washington. Godfrey was the station's morning disc jockey, playing records, delivering commercials (often with tongue in cheek;

8798-418: The sponsors, a risky move that offended advertising agency executives whose staff worked on the commercial scripts. Nonetheless, Godfrey's antics quickly gained acceptance when his sponsors discovered their sales actually increased after Godfrey's added jokes. At times, he would read an ad agency script on television as he mockingly rolled his eyes, used a sarcastic tone of voice or added his own wisecracks. Since

8904-545: The star- and cross-shaped grave markers were only temporary, an outcry arose in 1951 when permanent flat granite markers replaced them. A new 25-bell carillon built by Schulmerich Carillons, Inc. was dedicated in 1956 during Veteran's Day services. The carillon is nicknamed "Coronation" and was funded in part by the Pacific War Memorial Commission and individual contributions. Arthur Godfrey helped to raise funds. The National Memorial Cemetery of

9010-446: The talent that evening was up to his standards. He also began casting a critical eye on others in his cast, particularly La Rosa, whose popularity continued to grow. Like many men of his generation, Julius La Rosa, as well as other male Godfrey cast members, thought dance lessons to be somewhat effeminate and bristled when Godfrey ordered them for his entire performing crew. CBS historian Robert Metz suggested that Godfrey had instituted

9116-417: The television portion had ended – after lavishing praise on La Rosa in introducing the singer's performance of " Manhattan ", Godfrey thanked him and then announced that this was La Rosa's " swan song " with the show, adding, "He goes now, out on his own – as his own star – soon to be seen on his own programs, and I know you'll wish him godspeed as much as I do". Godfrey then signed off for the day, saying, "This

9222-508: The windy conditions that day required him to turn immediately after takeoff, but in fact he was upset because the tower would not give him the runway he requested. He later recorded a satirical song about the incident called "Teterboro Tower", roughly to the tune of " Wabash Cannonball ". A similar event occurred while he flew near Chicago in 1956, though no sanctions were imposed. The original Leesburg airport, which Godfrey owned and referred to affectionately on his show as "The Old Cow Pasture",

9328-476: Was Robert Q. Lewis , who hosted Arthur Godfrey Time whenever Godfrey was absent, adding to his own tight schedule.) Both Godfrey and Lewis made commercial recordings for Columbia Records , often featuring the "Little Godfreys" in various combinations. In addition to the "Too Fat Polka", these included "Candy and Cake"; "Dance Me Loose". " I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover "; "Slap 'Er Down Again, Paw"; " Slow Poke "; and " The Thing ". In 1951 Godfrey also narrated

9434-567: Was Pfc. Carl West of Weapons Company/1st Battalion/7th Regiment/1st Marine Division who was KIA December 10, 1950. In 2011 remains of an unknown USAF pilot from Operation Glory were identified from the "Punchbowl Cemetery"; POW remains from "Operation Glory" were also identified in 2011. From 1990 to 1994, North Korea excavated and turned over 208 sets of remains—possibly containing remains of 200–400 US servicemen—but few identifiable because of co-mingling of remains. In 2011 remains were identified. From 1996 to 2006, 220 remains were recovered near

9540-523: Was a transcribed compilation of highlights from morning shows of the preceding week. The 30-minute show was broadcast on Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time, sponsored by Chesterfield cigarettes. In 1946, Arthur appeared in the Broadway revue Three to Make Ready , "offering monologues and serving as a kind of master of ceremonies." In 1965, he appeared as Harry Lambert in Never Too Late at

9646-642: Was also known for extemporizing music on the show, grabbing his ukulele and launching into songs the band may not have rehearsed. He had insisted on employing musicians in his small orchestra who would be able to accompany him quickly and "follow" him as he sang. This resulted in impromptu jam sessions on some broadcasts, rarely heard on mainstream variety programs. Performers who appeared on Talent Scouts included Lenny Bruce , Don Adams , Tony Bennett , Patsy Cline , Lu Ann Simms , Pat Boone , opera singer Marilyn Horne , Roy Clark , and Irish vocalist Carmel Quinn . Later, he promoted "Little Godfrey" Janette Davis to

9752-460: Was also known for flying a North American/Ryan Navion , a smaller single-engined airplane, a Lockheed Jetstar , and in later years a Beech Baron and a Beech Duke , registration number N1M. In 1964, he became one of the founding members of the board of directors of Executive Jet Aviation Corporation . When the Godfrey show began appearing on television, some Southern CBS affiliates objected to

9858-434: Was also known for sparking impromptu jam sessions on the air with the band, all of them first-rate musicians who could improvise on the fly. He would sometimes begin singing along with his ukulele, the band falling in behind him. At other times, he would jump into a number sung by one of the "Little Godfreys" and continue it, encouraging solos from various band members. It was further proof of his insistence on spontaneity on

9964-620: Was also signed to Cadence Records , founded by Godfrey's musical director Archie Bleyer , who produced " Eh, Cumpari! ", the best-selling record of La Rosa's musical career. La Rosa later admitted the record's success had made him a little cocky. Godfrey discovered La Rosa had hired Rockwell in the wake of the dance lesson reprimand, when he received a letter from Rockwell dictating that all future dealings with La Rosa would be handled through General Artists Corporation , Rockwell's agency. At that point, Godfrey immediately consulted CBS President Dr. Frank Stanton , who noted Godfrey had hired La Rosa on

10070-554: Was determined they perished on this vessel. In addition, new information that identified grave locations of 175 men whose graves were previously marked as "Unknown" resulted in the installation of new markers in October 2002. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific contains a "Memorial Walk" that is lined with a variety of memorial markers from various organizations and governments that honor America's veterans. As of 2012, there were 60 memorial boulders (bearing bronze plaques) along

10176-529: Was friends with the Vanderbilts , but was democratic in his associations and enjoyed talking about issues of the day to total strangers. In the book Genius in the Family (G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1962), written about their mother by Godfrey's youngest sister, Dorothy Gene (who preferred to be called "Jean"), with the help of their sister, Kathy, it was reported that the angriest they ever saw their father

10282-399: Was in the Navy when Godfrey, doing his annual Naval reserve duty, discovered the young singer. He subsequently invited him on the show as a guest, offering him a job upon his discharge. La Rosa joined the cast in 1951 and became a favorite with Godfrey's immense audience, who also saw him on the prime-time weekly show Arthur Godfrey and his Friends . Godfrey also had a regular announcer-foil on

10388-412: Was less than a mile from the center of town, and local residents had come to expect rattling windows and crashing dishes every Sunday evening and Friday afternoon. In 1960, Godfrey proposed building a new airport by selling the old field and donating a portion of the sale to a local group. Since Godfrey funded the majority of the airport, it is now known as Leesburg Executive Airport at Godfrey Field. He

10494-626: Was longstanding, alluded to on his broadcasts. According to several people who worked either for or closely with Godfrey, behind his on-air warmth and benevolent image was a volatile, egomaniacal and controlling personality. He insisted that his "Little Godfreys" all attend dance and singing classes, believing they should be versatile performers regardless of whether they possessed the aptitude for those disciplines. In meetings with his staff and cast, he could be abusive, sarcastic and intimidating. CBS historian Robert Metz, in CBS: Reflections in

10600-492: Was no contractual requirement, that his cast members refrain from hiring personal managers or booking agents. He insisted his staff could handle all of that. Given the rise of the "Little Godfreys" from total obscurity due to their exposure on Godfrey's popular programs, no one felt inclined to challenge him. Despite his ability to bring in huge profits to the network, most CBS executives who respected Godfrey professionally disliked him personally, since he often baited them on and off

10706-672: Was nonetheless barred, via a notice placed on a cast bulletin board, from appearing on the show for a day in retaliation. La Rosa went to Godfrey's hotel and attempted to discuss the incident, but after being rebuffed by Godfrey's assistants, he waited in the lobby. When Godfrey came into the lobby, he reportedly walked past La Rosa as if he wasn't there and refused to talk with him. At that point, La Rosa, whose success on records had brought interest from top show business managers and agents, retained manager Tommy Rockwell to renegotiate his contract with Godfrey or, failing that, to receive an outright release; however, such talks had yet to occur. La Rosa

10812-511: Was not, however, the only firing that day. Godfrey also fired Archie Bleyer. In 1952, Bleyer had formed his own record label, Cadence Records , which had a contract with La Rosa; Bleyer also married Janet Ertel of The Chordettes . The focus of Godfrey's anger was the fact that Bleyer, while on hiatus from the show, had produced a spoken-word record by Godfrey's Chicago counterpart Don McNeill to be issued by Cadence. McNeill hosted The Breakfast Club , which had been Godfrey's direct competition on

10918-402: Was so concerned about losing Godfrey's audience that they encouraged him to broadcast live from his Beacon Hill estate (near Leesburg, Virginia ), with the signal carried by microwave towers built on the property. Godfrey's immense popularity and the trust placed in him by audiences was noticed not only by advertisers but also by his friend, President Dwight Eisenhower , who asked him to record

11024-541: Was supplemented by a prime time variety show, Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts , broadcasting from the CBS Studio Building at 49 East 52nd Street, where he had his main office. This variety show, a showcase for rising young performers, was a slight variation of CBS's successful Original Amateur Hour . Some of the performers had made public appearances in their home towns and were recommended to Godfrey by friends or colleagues. These "sponsors" would accompany

11130-435: Was to extemporize his commercials, poking fun at the sponsors (while never showing disrespect for the products themselves), the sponsors' company executives, and advertising agency types who wrote the scripted commercials that he regularly ignored. (If he read them at all, he ridiculed them or even threw aside the scripts in front of the cameras.) To the surprise of the advertising agencies and sponsors, Godfrey's flippancy during

11236-593: Was when a man on the ferry declared the Ku Klux Klan a civic organization vital to the good of the community. They rode the ferry back and forth three times, with their father arguing with the man that the Klan was a bunch of "Blasted, bigoted fools, led 'round by the nose!" Godfrey's mother, Kathryn, was a gifted artist and composer whose aspirations to fame were laid aside to take care of her family after her husband, whom she called "Darl'", died. Her creativity enabled

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