‘A beacon of light’

By Mindy Honey
Society Editor
Originally published Nov. 7, 2009

In 1993, Tony Orlando offered his first free Veterans Day show at his Yellow Ribbon Music Theatre in Branson with 600 people in attendance.

Orlando said that was the first free Veterans Day show in Branson. In 1994, Orlando brought Bob Hope to Branson and the area’s Veterans Day celebration gained national attention.

Fifteen years later, Branson’s celebration has become the largest gathering of veterans on Veterans Day and Orlando continues to offer his free show.

“Branson has become a beacon of light for the love of country and traditional values,” Orlando said. “Like every year, like the sun goes up and the sun goes down, we will do our show.”

Part of Orlando’s show always includes the Yellow Ribbon Medal of Freedom, which has gone to past recipients including Bob Hope, Ross Perot, Gerald Ford, John McCain and Oliver North.

“I’m proud of the people who have come here,” Orlando said.

Orlando said keeping the show free to veterans is important.

“It is money well spent because I really believe that showing our veterans our love is just a small part of what we can do to show our appreciation and respect for us,” he said. “I am proud of Branson and their 15 years of giving to veterans.”

The 1973 song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree” is at the root of Branson’s Veterans Day celebration.

“That was the year the POWs of Vietnam came home,” he said. “Although the song was never written for war reasons, it was a love song. It turned into a symbol of homecoming and hope. It started with those POWs and their families and I was invited by Bob Hope to go to the Cotton Bowl where they were first welcomed home.”

Orlando said he was the opening act of a three-hour event attended by 70,000 people.

The yellow ribbon soon became a national symbol.

“I was just the mailman who delivered that letter,” Orlando said. “The yellow ribbon is an international symbol that radiates out of a little city in the Midwest called Branson, Mo.”

Orlando’s Yellow Ribbon Salute to Veterans show will be held at 2 p.m. Veterans Day at the Welk Theatre.