Tony Orlando and John...as in McCain

November 17, 2007 RSS Feed Print
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He's been wanting to tie a yellow ribbon around Sen. John McCain ever since reading the GOP presidential candidate's moving autobiography two years ago. And now, aging pop star Tony Orlando has done it. Well, technically. Orlando, who's been working for veterans ever since his 1973 hit "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree," awarded the former Vietnam War POW his annual Yellow Ribbon Medal of Freedom over the Veterans Day holiday. "I didn't pick him because he was running for office," says Orlando. "I wanted to do it a couple of years ago when I read his book." McCain, who was campaigning at the time, sent a thank-you video to the annual concert in Branson, Mo., where Orlando performs. McCain isn't the only former prisoner of war to get the award. The first recipient, Stephen Long, shared a cell wall with McCain in the "Hanoi Hilton."

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