Washington, D.C. - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 2000 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans will be led by noted film and television actor Richard Crenna.
As Salute chairman, Crenna, a World War II Army veteran, will head VA's annual program inviting the public to visit and honor hospitalized veterans across the country during the week of Valentine's Day (Feb. 13 - 19). He will also serve as a national spokesperson for nearly 105,000 volunteers who assist veterans in VA facilities throughout the year.
Crenna has had featured roles in several TV series beginning in television's early years, with "Our Miss Brooks," "The Real McCoys" and "Slattery's People," and in many films, including the Rambo movies. He was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards. In 1988, Crenna's star was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his successful television and film acting career.
The actor's career began in radio in 1946 with the "Date with Judy" program. He continued his role of a high-school student in the "Our Miss Brooks" radio series into television in the early 1950s, leaving that program to assume the role of Luke in "The Real McCoys." Crenna then began directing episodes of the series and has directed more than 200 TV episodes, pilots and movies of the week. After "The Real McCoys," he produced "Slattery's People," a dramatic series in which he also starred in the role of a crusading legislator.
Crenna's movie credits include: "John Goldfarb, Please Come Home," "Marooned," "Star!," "Red Sky at Morning," "Doctors' Wives," "Table for Five," "Wait Until Dark" and "Body Heat." In the Rambo movies of the 1980s, Crenna played the role of Colonel Trautman.
Newspaper columnist Ann Landers is asking her readers, for the 12th consecutive year, to send Valentine cards and letters to hospitalized veterans at their nearest VA medical center.
Information about National Salute activities and visits is available at the Voluntary Service office of any VA medical center, which can be found in the federal government listing of local phone directories. Information can also be found on the Internet at www.va.gov.
