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Oak Ridge Boys answer call to serenade President George H.W. Bush while recovering

By April MacIntyre Dec 29, 2012, 21:59 GMT

The Oak Ridge Boys - 5th Annual ACM Honors - Red Carpet - Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN, USA © Andrew Evans / PR Photos

Former First Lady Barbara Bush issued a statement for the Oak Ridge Boys, who sang for the ailing former President George H.W. Bush.

"Words cannot properly express how much The Oaks' special performance meant to the President and the Bush family.  This friendship goes back many years, and what happened yesterday gave the President a real shot in the arm as he, thankfully, continues to improve.  The Bushes continue to feel so blessed to have so many friends like The Oaks, and wish to thank one and all for their prayers and good wishes." – Office of George H. W. Bush
 
“Yesterday morning, The Oak Ridge Boys received the daily report from President Bush staff.  The report of his health was that he was improving each day.  Then, we received another message, Barbara Bush requested that we call the President and sing to him!  All of the Oak Ridge Boys are on vacation, but we all headed to our office upon hearing of this request.  We called the President and sang for him.  He asked to hear Elvira, so we sang that for him, and then we sang one verse of Amazing Grace.” – Duane Allen, The Oak Ridge Boys
 
"Brenda and I consider Pres. George H.W. Bush, Barbara and their entire family some of our most treasured friends.  My partners and I were so honored to help lift spirits by singing yesterday over the phone to him and his family. We wish him speedy recovery."  - William Lee Golden, The Oak Ridge Boys
 
“A flurry of emails flew around yesterday regarding the health and well being of the man we call OUR President... George Herbert Walker Bush #41.  I thought I had seen them ALL when Duane Allen called with the word that President Bush would love to hear a few songs from The Oak Ridge Boys and his family all agreed that this just may lift his spirits as he has been hospitalized for over a month.  The main request came from Barbara Bush so Duane was calling around in hopes that everyone was in town during this off time. Well, he found us all and within about 45 minutes we had converged at our office and were calling OUR President. We asked what song he would like to hear and he said 'Elvira'... so we blasted some oom pop a mau mau’s in the direction of Houston, Texas.

After we finished we asked if he could hear us and he answered “Oh quite clearly.” His typical humor brought laughter all around. We than sang some Amazing Grace for him after which Barbara Bush came on the phone and thanked us.  She said, “As usual the hospital room was filled with family and right now they were ALL loving The Oak Ridge Boys.

After hanging up Duane Allen said... “You know I am always proud to be an Oak Ridge Boy but at a time like this... in a MOMENT like this... I am REALLY proud of us. We just did a good thing”

We all smiled and went back home. We had just sung a few songs for OUR PRESIDENT. We have been doing so since 1982. Get well soon, sir. We love you.  AMERICA loves you. The WORLD LOVES YOU!” – Joe Bonsall, The Oak Ridge Boys