92 U.S. V T RANS MAGAZ N WWW.USVETERANSMAGAZINE.COM
FEATURE: COVER STORY
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I believe while we can never do enough for our nation's defenders and the families who sacrifice alongside them, we can always do a little more."
-Gary Sinise
"I've been honored to be featured, and it's an honor and a pleasure to be featured again," he said. "I did not serve. One way I can serve is by shining a light on those who do serve. U.S. Veterans Magazine does that." The 67-year-old husband and father of three has been busy for the past couple of years. He continues supporting veterans through the Gary Sinise Foundation, and the Illinois native moved from California to Nashville, Tenn. "I was looking for a change, and there are so many veterans groups from that part of the country," he said, adding that his foundation - which supports veterans and their families by building homes for wounded warriors (as part of its R.I.S.E. program), hosting day-long festivals at military medical bases and serving meals to deploying troops - is in its 12th year. "We're poised and positive to do so much [service for] the men and women of our military." He said he's looking forward to Veterans Day and a salute to veterans ceremony at the National World War II museum in New Orleans. That week, he'll be giving away another house to a wounded veteran, as well. When Forrest Gump !!!! theaters in 1994, Lt. Dan - Gump's no- nonsense platoon leader in Vietnam - resonated with veterans, especially those who served in Vietnam. One oft-cited scene, which critics have called a classic in "!!!-!%!!! the top of the mast on Gump's shrimping !!!!!!!! and hollering at God. "Never once did he think that either one was going to happen, that he was going to lose his legs and also suffer PTSD and tremendous guilt," Sinise said. "This is not an uncommon thing, and then he isolates, drowning himself in alcohol and drugs. "That scene is an absolute metaphor for wrestling those demons... That was the story of many Vietnam veterans. "And he wins. It's the story of a Vietnam vet that we hadn't seen before." "!!!-!%!!!! on his back in the calm waters of Bayou La Batre. Later, at Gump's wedding, he shows up with what Gump calls "magic legs." Lt. Dan has received prosthetics. He is newly married and clearly sober and happy. Sinise, a rock and roller from the Chicago area (he's a lifelong Bears and Cubs fan), didn't anticipate the attention that would come his way. But it did, and quickly. It was a pivot point in Sinise's life. He said he was so deeply moved that he felt compelled to turn his emotions into action. Around the turn of the new century, that's what he did. One strategy he employed was to introduce himself as Lt. Dan when trying to make inroads with organizations. "They'd patch me right through," he joked in an earlier interview. In time, the bass player formed the Lt. Dan Band, which has put on more than 500 concerts for veterans who get to revel for a few hours in the 13-member group's covers of Adele, Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars, Charlie Daniels and others. Said one Marine, who asked to remain anonymous for privacy reasons: "Upon !!!!!!"! the loss of more brothers than I'd like to remember was taking its toll. I saw a poster
COURTESY OF GARY SINISE FOUNDATION
Gary Sinise with Christian Brown during a R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) home visit. Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band perform at Relief + Resiliency.
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