Hollywood celebrities often stand behind causes, but few stand behind our brave young men and women in uniform with such strong passion and dedication as Gary Sinise. “We owe them. They are our defenders and we have to back them up,” the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor told the crowd at a luncheon at the National Press Club on Thursday.
The “Forrest Gump” co-star, who received an Oscar nomination for his role, has become widely recognized among troops as “Lieutenant Dan.” Sinise said that after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he “wanted and needed a role in helping face this national challenge and supporting those who are defending our country.”
Recommended Stories
Over the last few years, he has been on several handshake tours and 40 USO tours and concerts with the Lt. Dan Band, and has donated millions of dollars to support our armed forces and first responders. “I’ve spent almost every spare moment trying to do something — whether it’s boosting the morale with a concert or raising money. I am about maxed out on how much time I can spend, and I thought, ‘Well, I’m either going to pull back or I am going to find a way to going to ramp up the efforts,’ ” Sinise told Yeas & Nays.
With that, Sinise decided to create the Gary Sinise Foundation, which he hopes will honor the nation’s defenders, veterans, first responders and their families by supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire and strengthen communities.
“We can never do enough for our veterans. As far as I’m concerned, we can always do more,” he said.
Along with the announcement of his new foundation, a documentary titled “Lt. Dan Band: For the Common Good” will also be released Monday. The film documents the journey of Sinise, his band and the soldiers they meet along the way. The film can be seen online at ltdanbandmovie.com. One of every four dollars donated to view the film will be given to the Gary Sinise Foundation.
