I know you are probably wondering why I would post pictures of a statue of Bob Hope for Mission Monday. But there is a good reason. Stay with me.

This is clearly a giant statue of the “Kissing Sailor,” a photograph taken for Time Life Magazine in Times Square on that fateful day in 1945 when the Japanese announced an “Unconditional Surrender.” The U.S.S. Midway Museum is in the background. I really wanted to see the statue while visiting family in San Diego for Christmas, so I did. And I took some fun pictures with my iPhone – not my Canon DSLR because I didn’t think I would be posting them on my Catholic blog.

Investigating the area further, my husband and I came across this: the National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military. Listed as Public Art, the bronze statues depicts servicemen listening to Bob Hope’s comedy routine. One of the statues holds a sign which reads “Thanks For The Memories Bob.” A recording from one of his shows can be heard while spectators visit the site.

The following day we headed home via the 405 freeway, a slightly different route than we would normally take to our home in Northern California. I was pondering what I might be posting in the new year and sought my husband’s advice. He looks out the window, pointing and without skipping a beat he says, “Mission San Fernando next exit, do you want to go?” I smiled and said, “Okay.”

We thought about visiting it at Thanksgiving, but since we never take that freeway it was a bit out of the way.

It is a simple mission structure and looks much like every other mission inside; outside a simple solitary fountain is the center of the courtyard. I had only 15 minutes before they closed so I didn’t take too many pictures.

If you go through the church and out the side door you will find this garden with a beautiful statue of Mary, Mother of God as you enter.

She stands watch over the “Bob Hope Memorial Garden!”

Bob Hope, his wife, his parents and his niece are buried there!

Bet you didn’t know that. Yeah, neither did I.

Happy Monday.