High school yearbook photo of Fred Rogers. Nor was he a Marine who hid his death-dealing skills by presenting himself as a kind and gentle soul. [30][31][32] While working on the show, Rogers attended Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1963. [75] Congressional funding for PBS increased from $9 million to $22 million. [90], After Rogers' retirement in 2001, he remained busy working with FCI, studying religion and spirituality, making public appearances, traveling, and working on a children's media center named after him at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe with Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, chancellor of the college. The Society donated $25,000 to the McFarland Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation (named after Margaret McFarland) in Rogers's honor. Fred Rogers was a legitimate American national treasure. The completely unfounded tale circulated that a condition of his supposed sentence was that he performs on an educational television show as a community service obligation. [110] He delayed treatment until after he served as Grand Marshal of the 2003 Rose Parade, with Art Linkletter and Bill Cosby, in January. [27][28] Children's television entertainer Ernie Coombs was an assistant puppeteer. He ate a vegetarian diet for ethical reasons. Things started to be better when he attended Latrobe High School. [133][135], A roadside Pennsylvania Historical Marker dedicated to Rogers to be installed in Latrobe was approved[136] by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission on March 4, 2014. [86] Though reluctant to appear on television talk shows, he would usually "charm the host with his quick wit and ability to ad-lib on a moment's notice". "There are three ways to ultimate success," Rogers is quoted as saying. Fred Rogers, whose gentle . Note: Much of the below list is taken from "Honorary Degrees Awarded to Fred Rogers",[146] unless otherwise stated. Paul Morse/George W. Bush Presidential Library/Wikimedia CommonsReceiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush in 2002. Tribute to Rogers on what would have been his 80th birthday (March 20) by FCI. Fred Rogers was born March 20, 1928, as the nation braced for the Great Depression. Here are 64 inspirational Mr. Rogers quotes about love, life, and being special. [45][46] By the time it ended production in December 2000, its average rating was about 0.7% of television households or 680,000 homes, and it aired on 384 PBS stations. [129], Rogers's style and approach to children's television and early childhood education also "begged to be parodied". Mr. Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister and often introduced the core tenets of Christianity to his audience. Wikipedia Rogers graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and was ordained a minister of the United Presbyterian Church in 1963. Furthermore, you cannot be a Navy SEAL if you fail the color blindness test, and Rogers was red-green colorblind. Fred McFeely Rogers (March 20, 1928 - February 27, 2009) was an American television personality, musician, puppeteer, writer, producer, and Presbyterian minister. Rogers worked off-camera to develop puppets, characters, and music for the show. The second way is to be kind. However, the assertion is nothing more than a long list of tall tales that have been exaggerated about the whole childrens entertainer. "'The whole idea,' says the beloved host of . [57] The Neighborhood also spent fewer resources on research than Sesame Street, but Rogers used early childhood education concepts taught by his mentor Margaret McFarland, Benjamin Spock, Erik Erikson, and T. Berry Brazelton in his lessons. Mr. Rogers proceeds to the window seat by the trolley track and sets up the action there as the Trolley comes out. Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan) was in the United States Marine Corps Reserve during the Second World War, but never saw any combat . He also attended the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Child Development,[33][32] where he began working with child psychologist Margaret McFarlandwho, according to Rogers's biographer Maxwell King, became his "key advisor and collaborator" and "child-education guru". Robert James Keeshan (June 27, 1927 - January 23, 2004) was an American television producer and actor. Shy, introverted, and overweight, he was frequently homebound after suffering bouts of asthma. Awarded by the international professional music fraternity to musicians who have attained "a national reputation in his or her field". Answer (1 of 7): No. 56 Copy quote. Despite not being afraid to tackle difficult subjects on his show like death, sibling rivalry, and divorce Mr. Rogers maintained a very private personal life. [72] Even though Rogers was not yet nationally known, he was chosen to testify because of his ability to make persuasive arguments and to connect emotionally with his audience. [121] The memorial was broadcast several times on Pittsburgh television stations and websites throughout the day. March 25, 2001 . Sending a mother or father of a young child off to war would be traumatic for that child, destroying the essential bond with their parents thats so important for their emotional development. The third way is to be kind.". [29] The Children's Corner won a Sylvania Award for best locally produced children's programming in 1955 and was broadcast nationally on NBC. Mister Rogers, aka Fred Rogers, the host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, was not a sniper or Navy SEAL. He attended the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Child Development, where he began his 30-year collaboration with child psychologist Margaret McFarland. Nov. 26, 2019 5 AM PT. He was honored for his commitment to teaching and nurturing children on. [11] However, his status was changed to unqualified for military service following an Armed Forces physical on October 12, 1950. Tallman., https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=qW0UP9DOCkQ, Or how about flashing the satanic devil-horns? Josie Carey worked with him to develop the children's show The Children's Corner, which Carey hosted. [90][98] He became a pescatarian in 1970, after the death of his father, and a vegetarian in the early 1980s,[99] saying he "couldn't eat anything that had a mother". A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, from screenwriters Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster, is inspired by the real-life relationship Rogers struck up with Esquire reporter Tom Junod. [11] He attended Dartmouth College for one year before transferring to Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida,[6] where he graduated magna cum laude[12] in 1951 with a Bachelor of Music. [75] It brought Pastore to tears and also, according to King, has been studied by public relations experts and academics. The beloved 74-year-old television personality was diagnosed with an aggressive stomach cancer shortly after the holidays, but had kept news about his terminal illness from his adoring fans. Given by the Three Rivers Chapter, University of Pittsburgh, Phi Delta Kappa fraternity, Given by the Catholic Broadcasting Association, Distinguished Communications Recognition Award. Rogers biographer Maxwell King[124], Marc Brown, creator of another PBS children's show, Arthur, considered Rogers both a friend and "a terrific role model for how to use television and the media to be helpful to kids and families". Fred Rogers was famous for sporting long sleeve sweaters (generally red) on the popular TV program. Once this segment ends, Mr. Rogers leaves and returns to his home, indicating that it is time to visit the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Search instead in Creative? Fred Rogers was such a good person that weve invented our own tales about him. [16] He also studied Catholic mysticism, Judaism, Buddhism, and other faiths and cultures. Wikimedia Commons High school yearbook photo of Fred Rogers. According to Asia Simone Burns of National Public Radio, in the years following the end of production on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in 2001 and his death in 2003, Rogers became "a source of comfort, sometimes in the wake of tragedy". Leave a comment below! After 1973, two commemorative quilts, created by two of Rogers's friends and archived at the Fred Rogers Center at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, were made out of the academic hoods he received during the graduation ceremonies.[201][202]. It's easy to say 'It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not . Then the web is filled with his words and images. It seems eerily close to sign language for I love you.. Moreover, some assertions go as far to suggest that Mr. Rogers was active in the Vietnam War. Yes, Mr. Rogers was a Christian and an ordained Presbyterian minister. [94][95] According to biographer Maxwell King, Rogers's close associates said he was "absolutely faithful to his marriage vows". [78][80], In September 1987, Rogers visited Moscow to appear as the first guest on the long-running Soviet children's TV show Good Night, Little Ones! [84][85] The first time Rogers appeared on television as an actor, and not himself, was in a 1996 episode of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, playing a preacher. "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. [72] In 1970, Nixon appointed Rogers as chair of the White House Conference on Children and Youth. [104][105] King reported that Rogers's relationship with his young audience was important to him. An image shared on Facebook claims American television host Fred Rogers was a U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) sniper who recorded 55 confirmed kills during the Vietnam War. [71], In 1969, Rogers testified before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communications, which was chaired by Democratic Senator John Pastore of Rhode Island. He then talks to the viewers before concluding the episode. [67] King reports that the decision caught many of his coworkers and supporters "off guard". She was 92. [87] Rogers was "one of the country's most sought-after commencement speakers",[88] making over 150 speeches. To this day, especially in times of "disaster", I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpersso many caring people in this world. Most U.S. metropolitan newspapers ran his obituary on their front page and some dedicated entire sections to coverage of his death. Unfortunately, it has also contributed to spreading some false rumors about the devoutly religious man. It would all be fascinating if the story was true, which it is not. Barker officiated the service; also in attendance were Pittsburgh philanthropist Elsie Hillman, former Good Morning America host David Hartman, The Very Hungry Caterpillar author Eric Carle, and Arthur creator Marc Brown. Fraternity for male musicians who have adopted music as a career. In 2010. Rogers, by all accounts, seems like a very mild-mannered, Puritan-esque character. They were married from 1952 until he died in 2003. [9] He registered for the draft in Greensburg, Pennsylvania in 1948 at age 20, where he was classified 1-A (available for military service). Fred was not interested in superficiality; he was always interested in the essence of a thing. ", Celebrating Mr. Rogers at the National Archives, "Fred M. Rogers Receives Degree From Seminary", "Vol 19601965: Annual Catalogue of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary", "On Sunday: Fred M. Rogers To Be Ordained", "Mr. Rogers was a televangelist to toddlers", "In the Land of Make Believe, The Real Mister Rogers", "Highlights in the life and career of Fred Rogers", "Sunday on the Children's Corner, Revisited", "When Fred Met Margaret: Fred Rogers' Mentor", "How Mr. Rogers and Mr. Dressup's road trip from Pittsburgh to Toronto changed children's television forever", "Fred Rogers Took a Stand Against Racial Inequality When He Invited a Black Character to Join Him in a Pool", "Mister Rogers pic in development with 'Little Miss Sunshine' directors", "Children's TV Host Fred Rogers Dies At 74", "Mister Rogers Is Coming Back To Your Neighborhood, On A Stamp", "Children's TV Icon Fred Rogers Dies at 74", "For Mister Rogers, a Final Day in the Neighborhood", "From the Archives: It's a Sad Day in This Neighborhood", "The Importance of Sweaters and Sneakers in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", "Siefken Heads Up Fred Rogers Company, Keeping Mister Rogers' Message Relevant For Next Generation", "Mr. Rogers offers timeless defense of PBS fundingin 1969", "Mr. Fred Rogers: Senate Statement on PBS Funding", "Fred Rogers Moves into a New Neighborhoodand So Does His Rebellious Son", "Beautiful Day For Mr. Rogers And Soviet Counterpart", "Mister Rogers, TV's Friend For Children, Is Dead at 74", "Fred Rogers' widow reveals the way he proposed marriageand it's so sweet", "Children's Museum of Pittsburgh to honor Joanne Rogers with its 2016 Great Friend of Children Award", "Music plays key role in Mrs. Rogers' relationship with husband Fred", "Joanne Rogers, Widow Of Fred Rogers, Dies At Age 92", "Fred Rogers: America's Favorite Neighbor", "How befriending Mister Rogers' widow allowed me to learn the true meaning of his legacy", "Lasting connection his legacy: Children felt Mister Rogers was talking just to them", "Rogers' death gets front-page headlines", "It's a beautiful day in the U.S. House as Congress honors Fred Rogers", "Friends, relatives mourn death of Mr. Rogers", "Pittsburgh bids farewell to Fred Rogers with moving public tribute", "Memorable guest: It's you, Fred, that I like", "Appreciation: Mister Rogers will always be part of our neighborhood", "The Backstory: The Moving Mr. Rogers Clip Everyone Is Talking About", "Creator Marc Brown on Mr. Rogers, Memes, and 20 Years of, "A 'very Fred-ish' birthday for 'Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood', "Mister Rogers Still Lives In Your Neighborhood", "Fred Rogers re-emerges as champion for PBS", "Watch Mister Rogers Defend PBS In Front of the U.S. Senate", "The Best Argument For Saving Public Media Was Made By Mr. Rogers In 1969", "Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Approves 21 New State Historical Markers", "State Marker in Latrobe to Honor Mr. Rogers", "How Mister Rogers became a timeless oracle of parenting wisdom", "The Fred Rogers Collection '51 '74H (19282003)", "Public Media Awards: Ralph Lowell Award", "What's Happening: Thanksgiving Ball, Sewickley Event", "On the Air: CBS Drops 10 Shows; 'Two Men' to Debut", "Among the Churches: Address By General Motors Minister To Highlight Salvation Army Week", "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Program Notes: Honorary Degrees Awarded to Fred Rogers", "Mister Rogers Gets Pitt Fraternity Honor", "Award-winning Rogers: kids' special-izer", "Valley Viewing Profiles in Excellence '82", "Mr. Fred Rogers Commencement Speech - Immaculata College 1988", "From Cardigan to Graduate's Gown Mister Fred Rogers Speaks at Moravian Baccalaureate", "2018 Peabody Awards honor The Fred Rogers Company", "Mr. Rogers, Heimlich among grad speakers", "Remembering Mr. Rogers' Rochester visit, and an important message", "Fred Rogers To Be Given Award In Pittsburgh", "Obituary: Jeffrey Erlanger / Quadriplegic who endeared himself to Mister Rogers", "Ridge honors 'Mister Rogers' with award", "Mister Rogers: Real Drama Of Life Not On Center Stage", "Mrs. Bush, Fred Rogers service award winners", "Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients", "Fred Rogers gets Presidential Medal of Freedom", "PNC Honors Six Achievers Who Enrich The World", "(26858) Misterrogers = 1952 SU = 1993 FR = 2000 EK107", "Minor league team honors Mr. Rogers with cardigan uniforms", "Mister Rogers Forever Stamp dedicated today", "A Mister Rogers Postage Stamp, and a Legacy That's Anything but Make-Believe", "Today's Google Doodle is a heartwarming tribute to Mr. Rogers", "Here are the First Honors Announcements for 2019", "Grammys 2021: Complete list of winners and nominees", "Mister Rogers to open a New Orleans neighborhood", "Kids explore exhibit featuring Mister Rogers", "It's Still a Beautiful Day in His Neighborhood", "New Mister Rogers 50th anniversary display opens March 20 at Heinz History Center", "Science Center celebrates Mister Rogers", "Four to receive recognition at Drury weekend ceremonies", "Father Jenco, Mister Rogers Among Graduation Speakers", "Eighty-Third Annual Baccalaureate/Commencement", "What celebrities have honorary degrees from Lehigh Valley colleges? He never used profanity. The museum contains an exhibit of, Fred Rogers Exhibit. [20][131] Rogers told interviewer David Letterman in 1982 that he believed parodies like Murphy's were done "with kindness in their hearts". Born on this day in 1928, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Rogers was a pioneer in children's programming for more than 50 years. Mister Rogers. [69] In 1979, after an almost five-year hiatus, Rogers returned to producing the Neighborhood; King calls the new version "stronger and more sophisticated than ever". Fred Rogers, popularly known as simply "Mister Rogers" (sometimes spelled Mr. Rogers) from his famed children's show, died age the age of 74, just one month before his 75th birthday. Maya Angelou. For example, there are claims online that suggest that Fred Rogers served in the military as an elite sniper. Required fields are marked *. Name: Fred Rogers Birth Year: 1928 Birth date: March 20, 1928 Birth State: Pennsylvania Birth City: Latrobe Birth Country: United States Gender: Male Best Known For: Fred Rogers was the. While it does serve as an interesting anecdote to an otherwise squeaky clean individual, the claims are absolutely baseless. If you conduct a quick internet search you will probably find a variety of sources that assert that Fred Rogers served in the U.S. Navy. However, like most reckless conspiracy theories, there is little to no evidence to support any of these accusations as nothing more than speculative. He also played the original Clarabell the Clown on the Howdy Doody television program. While the award is generally reserved for valiant acts of service in the military, it can also apply to other industries, such as television. The end of the visit occurs when the Trolley returns to the same tunnel from which it emerged, reappearing in Mr. Rogers's home. Those medical records have long been destroyed, so we dont know why he didnt pass. LiveAbout elaborates on the Mister Rogers war story, writing that since around the 1990s, people have spread the tale that Mister Rogers picked off "as many as 150" people in Vietnam as a sniper.He supposedly recorded those kills in the form of arm tattoos.Once he starred in a children's show, he obviously couldn't talk about how he capped a bunch of people overseas. [4], Rogers grew up in a large three-story brick house at 737 Weldon Street in Latrobe. When Amy Melder, a 6-year-old Christian viewer, sent Rogers a. Television skyrocketed in popularity just as he was coming of age (I Love Lucy premiered in 1951, the same year he graduated from college), and he found his calling in transforming the medium into something educational and worthwhile. Stories like this reflect more on us as a society than they do the man at the center of them. In 1962, he received a Bachelor of Divinity degree . After Mister Rogers' Neighborhood began airing in the U.S., the letters increased in volume, and he hired staff member and producer Hedda Sharapan to answer them, but he read, edited, and signed each one. Fred McFeely Rogers (20 Mairch 1928 - 27 Februar 2003) wis an American televeesion personality, muisicker, puppeteer, writer, producer, an Presbyterian meenister. Having Mr. Rogers as our neighbor made the world a safer place. ", the 1998 Esquire profile of Rogers, said, "Nearly every morning of his life, Mister Rogers has gone swimming". It takes one letter to say 'I' and four letters to say 'love' and three letters to say 'you'". "Wisdom from the World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember", p.22, Peter Pauper Press, Inc. 17 Copy quote. Over 31 seasons he proved to be the reliable, compassionate and all-wise friendly neighbor who guide. Conclusion: He acquired the rights to Misterogers in 1967 and returned to Pittsburgh with his wife, two young sons, and the sets he developed, despite a potentially promising career with CBC and no job prospects in Pittsburgh. Rogers balked at being compared to the eternally optimistic Pollyanna. For starters, Fred Rogers was born in 1928 and considering that the Vietnam War didn't begin until 1955, he would have been too old to serve. [29][35] It was the first time Rogers appeared on camera. He was declared unfit for military service, however, in 1950 after failing a mandatory physical. [137] It was installed on June 11, 2016, with the title "Fred McFeely Rogers (19282003)".[138]. The truth is often painful. To raise a generation which is not abused (by war or any other means) should be our goal, he wrote to a friend. Fred Rogers, who is best known by his TV moniker Mister Rogers, starred in his own childrens program for more than 3 decades and was universally beloved. Life is for service. University to Honor a Neighbor: Mr. Rogers", "Pa. ", Awarded for Rogers's educational special for children "Mister Rogers Talks With Children About Saying Goodbye to Friends.". He went directly to college after completing high school where his entertainment career started shortly after graduating from Rollins College. For example, since hosting Misterogers in Canada, he answered every letter sent to him by hand. The Truth About Those Rumors Of Mr. Rogers Badass Military Career. Lynn Johnson Mister Rogers is clearly having a. But what about military service, was Mr. Rogers in the military? [56] Writer Kathy Merlock Jackson said, "While both shows target the same preschool audience and prepare children for kindergarten, Sesame Street concentrates on school-readiness skills while Mister Rogers Neighborhood focuses on the child's developing psyche and feelings and sense of moral and ethical reasoning". Mr. Rogers was a master at teaching these lessons to children through the use of music and guest appearances. He started at NBC in New York City, and then moved back to Pennsylvania, then to Canada, and finally to Pittsburgh with the rights to his very own childrens show that would become the famed Mister Rogers Neighborhood. [42] It was videotaped at WQED in Pittsburgh and broadcast by National Educational Television (NET), which later became the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Thomas Fitzpatrick: The Amateur Pilot Who Drunkenly Landed A Plane On An NYC Street Twice, Adolf Hitler's Childhood Home Is Being Turned Into A Police Station, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, Rumors have long persisted that Fred Rogers, the host of. While it may be fascinating to think of Fred Rogers as a highly skilled and deadly sniper for the Navy SEALs during the Vietnam War, it just doesnt make any sense. He was shy, introverted, and suffered from asthma. The mystery surrounding his personal life has led some to ask one important historical question Was Mr. Rogers in the military? 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, View the National Archives Operating Status. [22][23][24], In 1953, Rogers returned to Pittsburgh to work as a program developer at public television station WQED. For starters, Fred Rogers was born in 1928 and considering that the Vietnam War didnt begin until 1955, he would have been too old to serve. [113] The newspaper also reported that by noon, the internet "was already full of appreciative pieces" by parents, viewers, producers, and writers. Additionally, Tom Hanks starred as Mr. Rogers in the 2019 Hollywood blockbuster A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Fred rogers was a legitimate american national treasure. The constant appearance of the sweater, historians argue, indicates that Mr. Rogers was attempting to conceal his full-sleeve tattoos and war wounds. Rogers was a guest speaker for the college's 154th commencement on the date of receipt. He had a ventriloquist dummy, he had [stuffed] animals, and he would create his own worlds in his childhood bedroom". Governor. Your email address will not be published. Fred Rogers: Rollins College Raw . Fred Rogers, '51: Emmy Award/Lifetime Achievement, May 21, 1997 (ABC TV) Fred Rogers Interview / CNN & Time (August 8, 1999) Clip Reel: Rollins College Speech (March 22, 2001) "Neighbors in the Wings" Fred Rogers: Knowles Memorial Chapel, Rollins College. There is a "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood of Make-Believe" in Idlewild Park and a kiosk of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood artifacts at Pittsburgh International Airport. No one who knew Rogers in real life has confirmed any military involvement on his part, and Rogers was a pacifist through and through. While the U.S. Army fought in Europe, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, Mr. Rogers was studying music and teaching children about kindness and understanding. The clip of Rogers's testimony, which was televised and has since been viewed by millions of people on the internet, helped to secure funding for PBS for many years afterward. [96][97], Rogers was red-green color-blind. In fact, he was a highly decorated sniper that recorded an unusually high number of confirmed kills while overseas. Awarded at the 12th national Abe Lincoln Awards banquet for his work in children's television. He earned his bachelor's degree in music from Rollins College in 1951 and soon began working in children's programming with WQED in Pittsburgh. By the time of his death in 2003 Fred Rogers was no longer a Marine sniper, but a Navy Seal with over 25 kills in Vietnam. Rogers was interred at Unity Cemetery in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in a mausoleum owned by his mother's family. [200], Rogers has received honorary degrees from over 43 colleges and universities. 1) Many of Mr. Rogers' famous sweaters he wore on the show were made by his mother. The age factor alone greatly discredits any realistic possibility that Mr. Rogers served in the Vietnam War, either as a Navy SEAL or Marine Scout Sniper. There were whispers on buses between children and in lines at supermarkets. Joanne Rogers, wife of the late Fred Rogers, in her home in Pittsburgh in November. The front page of Fred Rogers draft card. [59] For example, he wrote a special segment that dealt with the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy that aired on June 7, 1968, days after the assassination occurred. [118][119], On May 3, 2003, a public memorial was held at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh. As a child, he was sickly "I had every imaginable childhood disease, even scarlet fever," he said. [29] Rogers also worked with Coombs on the children's show Butternut Square from 1964 to 1967. It ran for 33 years and was critically acclaimed for focusing on children's emotional and physical concerns, such as death, sibling rivalry, school enrollment, and divorce. [76][note 3], In 1978, while on hiatus from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Rogers wrote, produced, and hosted a 30-minute interview program for adults on PBS called Old Friends New Friends. Related Article 12 Famous Female Marines. 00:34. Awarded "for giving generation upon generation of children confidence in themselves, for being their friend, for telling them again and again and again that they are special and that they have worth. According to urban legend, before Mr. Rogers was a TV host, he was as a sniper (or perhaps a Navy SEAL) during the Vietnam War, with a large number of confirmed kills. Mr Rogers (Fred McFeeley Rogers) never served in the military. 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