Carbon County hosts "USO Bob Hope" show

Carbon County USA 2019: A Tribute to Bob Hope USO Shows

May 25 in Roberts, Montana

The tiny town of Roberts, Montana, is will join Joliet and Red Lodge to put on the “Carbon County USA 2019” show Memorial Day weekend in Roberts.

On Saturday, May 25, local communities are coming together to celebrate the Roberts veterans’ project and to raise funds for Carbon County veterans’ programs by hosting a Bob Hope Tribute USO show dubbed “Carbon County USA 2019.” Volunteers from throughout the county, as well as Carbon County Commissioners, have planned the Bob Hope Tribute and several fundraisers to support the local veterans’ honor projects, Operation Second Chance and Carbon Stillwater Counties Yellow Ribbon Community programs. The Carbon County USA 2019 program will run from 2pm to 4pm at the Roberts School. The Roberts Activities Committee is spearheading the event.
Kyle McKinney of the Roberts Activities Committee explained that RAC’s mission is to build the Roberts Community’s “spirit and image” by organizing family-friendly community activities and to take on projects that display integrity and pride in Roberts and its residents. “The Activities Committee’s biggest endeavor has been the veterans’ project and the group is proud this display of honor and respect is spreading throughout the county,” McKinney said.
Bob Hope’s USO shows spanned the years from World War II through the Gulf War. Hope’s warm-hearted humor as well as his ability to bring in famous performers of the day lifted the spirits of troops stationed overseas and in remote and dangerous areas. (More: https://www.uso.org/stories/154-bob-hope-the-uso-s-one-man-morale-machine.)
Since 2015, the residents of Roberts have constructed and displayed crosses and US flags honoring deceased veterans and dog tags honoring living veterans and active duty personnel. The communities of Red Lodge and Joliet have followed suit, with a grand total of 700 crosses and dog tags along Highway 212 in the three communities. Typically, the crosses and dog tags are displayed for the two-week period surrounding Memorial Day and the two-week period surrounding Veterans’ Day.
For the May 25 festivities, organizers have arranged for William Johnson, a historically-accurate Bob Hope impersonator from Las Vegas, to headline the show. Local talent includes a Phyllis Diller and Mae West impersonator (PaMela Elver of Roberts); selections from the Andrew Sisters (Lyric Fike, Malenie Arana and Mallory Simons of Joliet); Bobby Darin music (Noah Grewell of Joliet); as well as music from barbershop groups, Dan Kosel (Roberts), the Carbon County Honor Band and Roy Buzzard and the Bones. A few performance spots are still available.
In addition to the Bob Hope USO tribute, food and beverage vendors will be on site beginning at 12:30. At 1:30, there will be a Missing Man Table Ceremony followed by a vintage plane flyover. No admission fee will be charged; instead attendees can make donations that go toward the veterans’ projects.
Fundraising events include:
  April 20th, 7 - 11PM         Sock Hop at the Joliet Community Center in Joliet. 
  May 19^th                              Special community only event

For information contact: Kyle McKinney, Roberts Activities Committee
Phone: 406-445-9111
Email: kylesspa@bellsouth.net