A church on Nashville&#8217;s west side has sat for years with no purpose. CreatiVets, an organization for wounded veterans, saw the church&#8217;s potential, but it came with a hefty Nashville real estate price tag of $3.35 million.
Thankfully, Gary Sinise saw the potential too. The actor best known for his role as Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump, donated $1 million to CreatiVets this spring to help buy the church for veterans to have a place to go to immerse themselves in songwriting, music, and other artistic avenues.
&#8220;Quite often our veterans don&#8217;t want any help. But through art and theatre as well, acting out what they are going through can be very, very beneficial,&#8221; Sinise told the Associated Press.
The Gary Sinise Foundation has given to CreatiVets the last two years but nothing compared to the million-dollar gift, according to CreatiVets Co-Founder and Executive Director Richard Casper. Casper, who started CreatiVets in 2013, called Sinise&#8217;s donation a catalyst for the non-profit&#8217;s mission.
&#8220;It will accelerate the opening of our Nashville art and music center, expand access to life-saving songwriting and visual arts programs, and help us drive down the waitlist of veterans seeking creative healing,&#8221; he said.
Two other donors who remained anonymous each gave $1 million toward the purchase of the church, which was finalized in July. Other influential people, including Grammy Award-winning artist Amy Grant, also donated toward the effort. Grant and Sinise toured the property in person in the spring and wanted to make CreatiVets&#8217; vision a reality.
Part of the CreatiVets&#8217; new home will be a performance center dedicated to Sinise&#8217;s late son, Mac, who died in 2024 after a battle with cancer. Casper said Mac loved music and was very involved with helping veterans through his father&#8217;s foundation.
The Academy Award-nominated actor started his foundation in 2011 to help military veterans, first responders, and their families. The foundation supports programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, and build. Programs like CreatiVets.
Casper said the funding so far for the new location has been a blessing. To restore the church that&#8217;s been left untouched since at least 2017, the non-profit needs at least $1.9 million for basic renovations. After that is completed, they&#8217;ll need additional support for office supplies.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-998757 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/IMG_7874-768x576.jpeg" alt="" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/IMG_7874-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/IMG_7874-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/IMG_7874-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/IMG_7874-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></div>
At CreatiVets&#8217; current location in the 12 South area of Nashville, veterans can only use the space to its full potential after working hours because it shares space with another business. Casper has fought for the empty church as a new space for more than a year. His goal of providing a 24-hour oasis for veterans keeps him moving through any setback he faces. A new space is needed to play music and have access to other machinery, sometimes noisy, round-the-clock.
The plan is to have the new CreatiVets music center open by next fall.
If you want to donate to CreatiVets, you can visit their website <a href="https://creativets.org/">here</a>.
The organization is hosting a fundraiser on Wednesday at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. You can buy tickets to &#8220;Stars and Scars to Scripts&#8221; featuring performances by Vince Gill, Charles Esten, Kalsey Kulyk, and Jay Demarcus <a href="https://www.tpac.org/events/detail/creativets-15043">here</a>.

CreatiVets/Gary Sinise

Gary Sinise Donates $1 Million To Turn Abandoned Church Into Creative Space For Wounded Veterans

Gary Sinise

Nashville

News

Veterans

Veterans Day

MixCollage-01-Mar-2025-01-46-PM-7816

‘Brothers After War’: An Interview With Gary Sinise And Jake Rademacher

Afghanistan

Documentaries

interview

Iraq War

Marines

Morning Wire

Movie Theaters

Movies

PTSD

Soldiers

U.S. Army

U.S. Military

U.S. Navy

Some roles change an actor’s life forever.
Think Sigourney Weaver playing Ripley in “Alien” or Christopher Reeve’s iconic work in the “Superman” franchise.
Gary Sinise’s turn as Lt. Dan Taylor in 1994’s “Forrest Gump” had a similar effect. Yes, the versatile Sinise had co-founded Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1974 and already had a few screen credits to his name. “Forrest Gump” put him on the proverbial map and he never left.
He spent the next three decades working on screens large and small. In addition to earning a Best Supporting Actor nomination for “Forrest Gump” he snagged honors for the 1995 film “Truman” (Golden Globe, Best Actor in a Miniseries) and TV’s “George Wallace” (a Best Actor Emmy in 1997).
<div id="attachment_884389" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-884389" class="size-large wp-image-884389" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-13-PM-52-864x576.jpg" alt="&quot;Forrest Gump,&quot; 1994. Robert Zemeckis. Gary Sinise. Paramount Pictures / Collection Christophel" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-13-PM-52-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-13-PM-52-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-13-PM-52-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-13-PM-52-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-13-PM-52-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-13-PM-52-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-13-PM-52-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />&#8220;Forrest Gump,&#8221; 1994. Robert Zemeckis. Gary Sinise. Paramount Pictures / Collection Christophel</div>
He couldn’t let the character lovingly known as Lt. Dan go. Sinise took playing a wounded military veteran to heart, creating a second career supporting U.S. soldiers in profound ways.
His latest project fits snugly into that body of work. He’s an executive producer behind the documentary “<a href="https://brothersafterwar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brothers After War.</a>”
The film, opening Feb. 28 in limited release, finds director Jake Rademacher sharing footage from his time embedded with Marines during the Iraq War. We also meet veterans struggling to resume civilian life, and how their “brothers” help with that transition.
Depression, suicide, and PTSD are explored with sensitivity and real-world gravitas.
“It’s important that we do all we can to ensure the public does not forget about the men and women who have served and the families who supported them. This film is a tribute to their sacrifices, their resilience and their character,” <a href="https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2025/2/brothers-after-war-to-debut-nationwide-february-28" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sinise told the Veterans of Foreign Wars site.</a>
The film represents a fraction of the star’s commitment to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="&quot;Brothers After War&quot; Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zdNwYJ4S6Ag?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Sinise’s post-“Forrest Gump” military activism deserves a biopic all its own. It unofficially started the year of the film’s release. Sinise accepted an invitation to appear at the National Convention of the Disabled American Veterans.
“Forrest Gump” showed Lt. Dan Taylor losing both legs during his combat tour. It’s a critical part of his character’s emotional arc, one that resonated with real-life heroes.
“I walked on stage and there were 2,000 wounded veterans out there, screaming and yelling like I&#8217;m Elvis or something. I looked out and saw these people in wheelchairs and everything and I just broke down. I got very emotional,” Sinise told Forbes in an interview celebrating the film’s 30th anniversary.
He took that experience to heart, along with visiting troops following the attacks on September 11, 2001. He splintered his bustling career into two distinct tracks.
He bounced between film and TV projects, including gigs on “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” as well as “CSI: NY” for nine seasons. All the while he kept up his commitment to helping veterans in any way possible.
<div id="attachment_884231" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-884231" class="size-large wp-image-884231" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-460211914-864x576.jpg" alt="LAKEWOOD, WA - DECEMBER 09: Actor and Director Gary Sinise makes an appearance at Clover Park Technical College on December 9, 2014 in Lakewood, Washington. (Photo by Suzi Pratt/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-460211914-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-460211914-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-460211914-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-460211914.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Suzi Pratt/Getty Images</div>
The star formed the <a href="https://www.army.mil/article/274639/gary_sinise_and_the_lt_dan_band_entertain_staff_patients_at_bamc#:~:text=In%202003%2C%20Sinise%20formed%20the,named%20after%20the%20character%20Lt." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lt. Dan Band in 2003</a>, giving soldiers a respite from their life-and-death responsibilities. The band’s motto? Honor. Gratitude. Rock and Roll. And a few pop hits like <a href="https://www.army.mil/article/278419/gary_sinise_and_the_lt_dan_band_play_570th_show_at_fort_knox" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“Frozen’s” “Let It Go”</a> for good measure.
The actor plays bass guitar for the group, which performs for service members across the globe. At 69, he’s still at it with several gigs slated for 2025 including a March 21 date at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Last August, Sinise’s Band made its <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamwindsor/2024/08/01/celebrating-30-years-of-forrest-gump--the-opry-honors-gary-sinise--his-lt-dan-band/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Grand Ole Opry debut.</a>
<div id="attachment_884401" style="width: 586px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-884401" class="wp-image-884401 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-17-PM-6095-576x576.jpg" alt="Gary Sinise Foundation/Instagram." width="576" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-17-PM-6095-576x576.jpg 576w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-17-PM-6095-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-17-PM-6095-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-17-PM-6095-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-17-PM-6095-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/MixCollage-27-Feb-2025-01-17-PM-6095-2048x2048.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" />Gary Sinise Foundation/Instagram.</div>
He founded the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011, a <a href="https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nonprofit dedicated</a> to “creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.” To date, the foundation has raised more than $400 million for military families since its inception.
The nonprofit’s programs include R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment) that builds smart homes for wounded veterans and first responders.
He’s earned just about every award possible for his military efforts, including two from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment. The Presidential Citizens Medal came for his exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation.
<div id="attachment_884237" style="width: 881px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-884237" class="size-large wp-image-884237" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-955500040-871x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 06: Actor Gary Sinise receives the Award for the Human Spirit during the 2018 Kennedy Center Spring Gala at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on May 6, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)" width="871" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-955500040-871x576.jpg 871w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-955500040-300x198.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-955500040-768x508.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-955500040.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 871px) 100vw, 871px" />Paul Morigi/Getty Images</div>
One unacknowledged benefit from Sinise’s activism? Hollywood has been far more empathetic to the U.S. Military in recent years, another possible side effect of Sinise’s extreme charity.
Gone are the days of “In the Valley of Elah,” “Rendition” and “Lions for Lambs,” all released during President George W. Bush’s administration. Those films often cast soldiers in a negative light, often to score partisan points.
Later films like “American Sniper” (2014), “Lone Survivor” (2013) and especially “Thank You for Your Service” (2017) echo the gratitude Sinise brings to his charitable efforts.
Perhaps the most remarkable part of Sinise’s activism is its apolitical nature. He’s given back without taking sides in the culture wars, and he keeps his military efforts free of ideological trappings.
Sinise’s Hollywood career never floundered despite his extensive military work. He voluntarily stepped back from the industry in 2019, though, to care for ailing family members. His wife Moira Harris was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and their son McCanna Anthony Sinise suffered from a rare spinal cancer condition.
The 33-year-old musician passed away last year, while Harris is in remission. The actor assembled some of his son’s music for last year’s posthumous projects “Resurrection &amp; Revival” and its follow-up, “Resurrection &amp; Revival Part Two.”
The only honor missing from Sinise’s mantle is one that’s sorely overdue. It’s well past time for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize one of the industry’s most talented, selfless artists with an honorary Oscar.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

32nd Annual Movieguide Awards Gala

From Lt. Dan To Real-Life Hero: Gary Sinise Is The Brother Soldiers Need

Entertainment

Hollywood

Actor Gary Sinise says that his new veteran-focused film, “Brothers After War,” was made in part to forge a connection between the military and &#8220;the average American.&#8221;
Sinise is an executive producer on the project, teaming up with filmmaker and director Jake Rademacher.
A <a href="https://brothersafterwar.com/">synopsis</a> of the film says: “Jake Rademacher reconnects with his brothers and elite Soldiers and Marines he embedded with during the Iraq War. Intercutting footage past and present, he leads us on an insightful, humorous, and moving journey as we watch warfighters explore loss, meaning, and hope on their path from warfighter to veteran.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="&quot;Brothers After War&quot; Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zdNwYJ4S6Ag?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Rademacher and Sinise sat down with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire">Morning Wire</a> for an interview about the film, which will be released in full on Saturday.
The director said one of his goals was to present the service members as &#8220;three-dimensional&#8221; characters with both flaws and virtues. &#8220;Oftentimes when you see documentaries, people cherrypick sad stories. They&#8217;re not really in the community, somebody&#8217;s kind of doing their drive by film about it,&#8221; Rademacher said.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to actually spend a day with these people,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to embed in their life. Now I embedded with them in the foxholes&#8230; I got to jump out of an airplane with them or go scuba diving, or get weapons training, which I did all of that.&#8221;
 The filmmaker said he wanted to show that the subjects of the documentary are &#8220;highly functioning people&#8221; who are &#8220;still carrying some of the invisible wounds of war.&#8221; 
&#8220;They still have some work to do. And, and I&#8217;ll show their vulnerability, but I also want to show their strength,&#8221; he said. &#8220;That&#8217;s the power of the movie. It makes tough subjects easier to talk about.&#8221;
Sinise referenced his iconic role playing Lieutenant Dan in the classic &#8220;Forrest Gump.&#8221;
He said the &#8220;good thing&#8221; about that fictional story is that it can represent healing, which is possible for veterans going through a tough time. 
&#8220;The good thing about [Lieutenant Dan&#8217;s] story is that it&#8217;s a happy ending at the end, right? You&#8217;ve got a guy who goes off to war. He&#8217;s serving during a time of conflict in our own country about whether he should have even been in the war or not. He has to isolate,&#8221; Sinise said. 
&#8220;He drowns himself in alcohol and disappears, but then, thankfully, at the end of that story, he&#8217;s standing up again. He&#8217;s making peace and he&#8217;s moving on. &#8230;That&#8217;s the story that we want for every single person who goes and serves in the military and comes home from war and defends our country. We want them to be okay. We want them to move on.&#8221;
“We want [veterans] to know that there’s a way to share their stories,” Sinise said of the documentary project during an <a href="https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/sinise-veterans-brothers/2025/02/22/id/1200100/">interview</a> with Newsmax. “Their stories are important. And I think by seeing this film and seeing the veterans in this film sharing their stories on camera for the world to see, it’s going to be very, very encouraging for somebody who may just need to talk about something but hasn’t been able to do it.”
“There’s a big disconnect between the average American who doesn’t have a relationship to anybody in the military and our military, the people that actually serve our country,” the actor said. “So maybe &#8216;Brothers After War&#8217; can help bridge that disconnect. That’s what we hope.”
The 69-year-old star founded the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011 and has been advocating for veterans ever since through outreach, visiting service members and veterans around the world, and calling attention to issues that matter to them.
He also helped fund this new documentary and <a href="https://www.military.com/off-duty/movies/2025/02/26/why-gary-sinise-wants-every-us-service-member-and-veteran-see-brothers-after-war.html">partnered with</a> Regal Cinema to make a record donation ($150,000) to entertainment nonprofit Vet Tix so free tickets to the film are available. 
“Brothers After War” hits theaters on Friday, February 28. Participating theaters can be found on the film&#8217;s official <a href="https://tickets.brothersafterwar.com/">website</a>.

Gary Sinise Wants His New Movie ‘Brothers After War’ To Connect ‘Average American’ And Military

Gary Sinise Hopes His New Veteran-Focused Movie Will Connect Civilians And Military

U.S.

The 30th anniversary of the 1994 blockbuster hit “Forrest Gump” will be celebrated this month in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nashville" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashville</a> at an event complete with music and stars from the original Robert Zemeckis film.
The Grand Ole Opry House announced that on Sunday, July 28, a star-studded event will be held at the famed music hall to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Paramount Pictures blockbuster classic, <a href="https://williamsonsource.com/grand-ole-opry-to-celebrate-30th-anniversary-of-forrest-gump/">Williamson County Source</a> reported.
“The special Opry performance is set to feature Mandy Barnett, The Gatlin Brothers, Jamey Johnson, Gary LeVox, Scotty McCreery, and more,” the outlet noted.
The event will also feature the award-winning actor &amp; humanitarian <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gary-sinise-talks-about-being-a-conservative-in-hollywood-and-how-it-affected-his-career">Gary Sinise</a> who will perform with the <a href="https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/lt-dan-band">Lt. Dan Band</a> songs from the 12X platinum-selling movie soundtrack, the outlet noted. Sinise is probably best known for his role as Lt. Dan, the wounded veteran in the hit movie alongside Tom Hanks.
In 2011, the “CSI:NY” star founded the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF), which offers a variety of programs and services for wounded veterans of all military branches, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gary-sinise-talks-about-being-a-conservative-in-hollywood-and-how-it-affected-his-career">reported</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Grand Ole Opry to Celebrate 30th Anniversary of Forrest Gump &#8211; <a href="https://t.co/twNluDQ0Sd">https://t.co/twNluDQ0Sd</a><a href="https://t.co/twNluDQ0Sd">https://t.co/twNluDQ0Sd</a>
— Williamson Source (@williamsonsrc) <a href="https://twitter.com/williamsonsrc/status/1806654024361652280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
In addition to Sinise and the long line of musical artists, the movie’s producer, Academy Award-winner Wendy Finerman, and actor Mykelti Williamson, who portrayed Bubba in the film, will appear as guest announcers, the outlet noted.
Per a press release, &#8220;fans can purchase an exclusive post-show ticket package that includes a show ticket, post-show ticket, commemorative poster, and more. The exclusive post-show event in the Opry House’s Studio A will feature a Q&amp;A discussion of 30 years of Forrest Gump with Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan), Mykelti Williamson (Bubba), and producer Wendy Finerman as well as photo ops on the iconic park bench seen in numerous scenes from the film.&#8221;
The proceeds from the package &#8220;will benefit the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF), which was established in 2011 to support our Nation’s veterans, first responders, heroes and defenders. &#8230; $5 from every ticket sold will be donated to GSF.&#8221;
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1712932862202000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0plT8RRdMy9XUpIhocnjQS">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
“Forrest Gump” premiered on July 6, 1994 and told “the history of the United States from the 1950s to the &#8217;70s” as it unfolded from the “perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, who yearns to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart,&#8221; <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/">IMDb noted</a>.
The movie was a huge hit and went on to win six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The movie also gave Tom Hanks the Best Actor award, Robert Zemeckis won for Best Directing, along with Eric Roth taking home Best Writing for a Screenplay based on material previously produced or published, according to the <a href="https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1995/memorable-moments">Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences</a>.
Prior to the show, the Opry will host a Forrest Gump-themed Plaza Party with music from the soundtrack, props from the film, giveaways, Forrest Gump merchandise, and more, the <a href="https://www.opry.com/show/2024-07-28-grand-ole-opry-at-7-pm">Grand Ole Opry</a> noted.
Tickets and more information can be found <a href="https://www.opry.com/show/2024-07-28-grand-ole-opry-at-7-pm">here</a>.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gary-sinise-talks-about-being-a-conservative-in-hollywood-and-how-it-affected-his-career" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gary Sinise Talks About Being A Conservative In Hollywood And How It Affected His Career</a>

Forrest Gump Movie

‘Forrest Gump’ 30th Anniversary To Be Celebrated With Star-Studded Event

'Forrest Gump' 30th Anniversary To Be Celebrated With Star-Studded Event

Tom Hanks

Everyone knows that the most commonly practiced religion in Hollywood is the worship of self, even if most celebrities won’t admit it. 
There are also plenty of stars who dabble in New Age practices, who call themselves “spiritual but not religious,” and a solid number of famous people who follow Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. 
And while lukewarm “Christians” are prevalent enough in Tinseltown, when it comes to being a Hollywood A-lister, it’s very unlikely that any will admit to being a full-fledged, church-going, sacrament practicing Catholic. It could be that the celebrity lifestyle doesn’t align with Catholicism. Or, perhaps there’s an invisible barrier preventing Catholics from reaching A-list status. More likely it’s a combination of both.
However, there are a handful of Catholic celebrities who wear their faith loudly and proudly. It may mean that they’re shunned by their peers, but despite that, these famous players have decided that their religion means more than fitting in.
<h4>Mark Wahlberg</h4>
<div id="attachment_732461" style="width: 796px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-732461" class="size-large wp-image-732461" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-2003553617-786x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Mark Wahlberg is seen at &quot;Good Morning America&quot; on February 14, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)" width="786" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-2003553617-786x576.jpg 786w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-2003553617-300x220.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-2003553617-768x563.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-2003553617.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px" />Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images</div>
Many millennials think of Wahlberg by his former stage name, Marky Mark. Wahlberg has collected plenty of impressive Hollywood accolades including a BAFTA Award, nominations for two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, nine Primetime Emmy Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. 
Besides just achieving success on the screen, the 52-year-old father of four is also a devout Catholic. 
“I attribute everything good and everything positive in life to my faith,” Wahlberg said during a 2023 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mark-wahlberg-says-once-he-started-putting-my-faith-and-focus-on-god-good-things-happened-to-him" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a>. “As soon as I started putting my faith and focus on God, good things started happening for me.”
“And even when they didn’t, [faith] gives you the coping skills to deal with things that are inevitable, like loss and failure and those things,” he continued. “But, you know, again, my faith and my family, those are the most important aspects of my life.”
In 2022, Wahlberg appeared in “Father Stu,” a movie based on the true story of a boxer who became a Catholic priest. The actor said it was “his calling” and “mission” to get the movie made.
The meditation app Hallow, the most downloaded and used Catholic app in the world, launched a partnership with the actor in 2022 as he was promoting the movie. At the time, Wahlberg urged his 18 million social media followers to pray the rosary with him.
“You got to stay prayed up. God bless you,” he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stay-prayed-up-mark-wahlberg-urges-his-18-million-followers-to-say-the-rosary-with-him" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at the time.
<h4>Gary Sinise</h4>
<div id="attachment_732463" style="width: 382px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-732463" class="size-large wp-image-732463" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1827867832-372x576.jpg" alt="LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Actor Gary Sinise attends the Thalians annual Winter Gala honoring Gary Sinise with the 2023 Mr. Wonderful Award at Brentwood Country Club on December 02, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)" width="372" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1827867832-372x576.jpg 372w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1827867832-194x300.jpg 194w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1827867832.jpg 661w" sizes=" (max-width: 372px) 100vw, 372px" />Michael Tullberg/Getty Images</div>
Yes, Lieutenant Dan from “Forrest Gump” is also a practicing Catholic in addition to promoting causes that help veterans.
He said he’s found success despite being openly conservative in Hollywood. 
“I’ve had a blessed career in the movie and television and theater business,” Sinise <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gary-sinise-talks-about-being-a-conservative-in-hollywood-and-how-it-affected-his-career" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in January 2023. “I’ve done amazing things, I’ve worked with amazing people, and it really played a major role, if not the key element, in what I’m doing today on the service side.”
Sinise discussed his journey to becoming Catholic in 2019. He said he was led to the church by his wife, Moira Harris, who converted herself after being cast in a play. The actor said he surprised his family by choosing to join the church about a decade after his wife. 
“I surprised my family. I’d gone through the confirmation classes and whatnot myself behind everybody’s back and I didn’t tell anybody that I was doing it,” he <a href="https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/02/actor-gary-sinise-describes-his-road-to-the-catholic-church" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Catholic News Service.
“On Christmas Eve 2010 I told the family I was taking them to dinner at Morton’s Steakhouse and have Christmas Eve dinner,” Sinise continued. “And on the way there, I pulled into the church, and everybody asked, ‘What are we doing here?’ I said come on in. We walked into the church. The priest was there, and he confirmed me. It was beautiful.”
<h4>Jim Caviezel</h4>
<div id="attachment_584027" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-584027" class="size-large wp-image-584027" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/GettyImages-652329212-e1680206549796-1024x566.webp" alt="AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 11: Actor Jim Caviezel attends the premiere of &quot;The Ballad of Lefty Brown&quot; during 2017 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Stateside Theater on March 11, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Steve Rogers Photography/Getty Images for SXSW)" width="1024" height="566" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/GettyImages-652329212-e1680206549796-1024x566.webp 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/GettyImages-652329212-e1680206549796-300x166.webp 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/GettyImages-652329212-e1680206549796-768x425.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/GettyImages-652329212-e1680206549796.webp 1275w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Steve Rogers Photography/Getty Images for SXSW</div>
The actor who portrayed Jesus in Mel Gibson’s massively popular drama, “The Passion of the Christ” (2004) is himself a Catholic. The 55-year-old actor credits his entire career to saying a daily rosary. He also credits his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary with helping him be cast in “The Thin Red Line” (1998), which was the starting point of his career.
While filming “The Passion,” Caviezel is said to have experienced a dislocated shoulder, pneumonia, and hypothermia, among other ailments. 
“When I was up there on the Cross, I learned that in His suffering was our redemption. Remember the servant is no greater than the master,” he <a href="https://aleteia.org/2019/03/20/jim-caviezel-gave-what-may-be-the-greatest-catholic-address-of-the-21st-century/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> while addressing a roomful of college students. “Each of us must carry our own cross. There is a price for our faith, for our freedoms. I have been literally scourged, hit by the whips, crucified, struck by lightning, yes, open heart surgery — that’s what happens after five and a half months of hypothermia.”
He spoke about his faith similarly in 2018. “I never thought that being a Christian would be an easy road, but that my heart, even on a cross in the freezing cold, nothing could stop my burning heart from loving Jesus. It’s important. And I took it as an actor because I want people to see why I am proud to be a Christian,” Caviezel <a href="https://relevantradio.com/2018/03/jim-caviezel-catholic-hollywood-love-greater-motivator-fear/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at the time.
<h4>Patricia Heaton</h4>
<div id="attachment_732467" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-732467" class="size-large wp-image-732467" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1425932756-864x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: Patricia Heaton, Actor, Producer and Author, speaks on stage during Taking a Leading Role in Solving the Global Water Crisis at The 2022 Concordia Annual Summit - Day 3 at Sheraton New York on September 21, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Concordia Summit)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1425932756-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1425932756-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1425932756-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1425932756.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Concordia Summit</div>
Actress Patricia Heaton is another mainstream actress who was cast on a hit sitcom despite being conservative, and Catholic to boot. She discussed growing up in a devout family during an interview in 2022 after meeting Pope Francis at the VITAE Summit in the Vatican.
“My sister is a Dominican nun,” she <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-09/actors-reflect-on-pope-francis-call-to-promote-common-good-vitae1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at the time. “My grandparents met Pope John Paul I. My mom was one of 15 children. I have some 100 first cousins on my mom&#8217;s side. So, we&#8217;re a very Catholic family. Meeting the Pope is such an incredible honor that I never thought I would have.”
Unlike some of her peers, Heaton said she hasn’t been ostracized for her faith.
“As much as people want to paint Hollywood as a sort of anti-religious place, I have found that going into work, we&#8217;re all there to do a job,” Heaton said during the same conversation. “We&#8217;re all there to be professional. We all respect each other. We share opinions, different opinions. And because we love each other and we have a common goal of creating something wonderful for people to enjoy, the differences in our religion or politics or whatever, in my experience on a set, have not been a problem.”
Besides sharing bible quotes with her followers, Heaton also openly discusses how she’s pro-life.
“I don’t understand why pro-life people want to know if they are ‘welcome’ to join the democrat party,” the actress <a href="https://twitter.com/PatriciaHeaton/status/1227643710646566914" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> on X in February 2020. “Why would any civilized person want to support a barbaric platform that champions abortion for any reason through all nine months funded by taxpayers?”
<h4>Shia LaBeouf</h4>
<div id="attachment_432144" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-432144" class="size-large wp-image-432144" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1185322394-scaled-e1685997615852-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1185322394-scaled-e1685997615852-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1185322394-scaled-e1685997615852-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1185322394-scaled-e1685997615852-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1185322394-scaled-e1685997615852.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for HFA)</div>
One of the newest Catholic converts in the Hollywood community is actor Shia LaBeouf, best known for getting his start on the Disney series “Even Stevens” and later moving into film roles, including the “Transformers” franchise.
Now the celeb is a practicing Catholic as well after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation on New Year’s Eve 2023. And he may go even further than that.
His sponsor told Catholic News Agency that the 37-year-old star is also considering becoming a deacon in the future. LaBoeuf credited being cast in the film “Padre Pio” (2022) with influencing his decision to convert after going through turmoil and scandals, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shia-labeoufs-conversion-to-catholicism-becomes-official-confirmation-sponsor-says-he-may-take-it-further" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
LaBeouf said he was “never an atheist,” but was previously agnostic. The actor further explained how the role in “Pio” saved his life.

Celebrity Sightings In New York – February 14, 2024

Faith In Hollywood: 5 Celebrities Who Are Openly Catholic 

actors

Catholic

Catholic Church

Jim Caviezel

Mark Wahlberg

Patricia Heaton

Actor Gary Sinise delivered a <a href="https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/mac-tribute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">glowing tribute</a> to his late son, McCanna Anthony &#8220;Mac&#8221; Sinise, nearly two months after he died of chordoma, an extremely rare cancer that attacks the spine.
The &#8220;Forrest Gump&#8221; actor began with Mac&#8217;s decision to join the Gary Sinise Foundation — and how proud he was of his son&#8217;s desire to work with veterans, first responders, and their families. He also mentioned Mac&#8217;s love of music and his talent on the drums, which occasionally put him on the road with Sinise&#8217;s Lt. Dan Band.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A message from Gary. <a href="https://t.co/Bb2ji85bSi">https://t.co/Bb2ji85bSi</a> <a href="https://t.co/Jhlrx6q9W9">pic.twitter.com/Jhlrx6q9W9</a>
&mdash; Gary Sinise (@GarySinise) <a href="https://twitter.com/GarySinise/status/1762556676576522699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
But just one year after Mac joined the Foundation, both he and his mother Moira Sinise were diagnosed with cancer — her with Stage 3 breast cancer, and him with chordoma — just two months apart.
&#8220;What was happening? What is Chordoma? I had never heard of this. And two cancer patients, mother and son, within two months of each other? A real punch in the gut,&#8221; Sinise wrote, adding that he immediately went into research mode to learn everything that he could. And while Moira went into remission and has been cancer-free ever since, Mac&#8217;s cancer returned and spread.
Despite eventually being paralyzed from the chest down, Mac was able to complete a piece of music he had begun composing in college years earlier, titled &#8220;Arctic Circles,&#8221; with the help of former classmate Oliver Schnee and two Lt. Dan Band members — pianist Ben Lewis and violinist Dan Myers. The piece was finally recorded in July of 2023 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles.
&#8220;With music so deep in his heart, unable to play drums now, Mac&#8217;s mother Moira suggested he get a harmonica, which he did, and he started teaching himself how to play. I have a dear friend, Medal of Honor recipient Sammy L. Davis, who plays harmonica and tells a story of learning to play &#8216;Shenandoah&#8217; while in the jungles of Vietnam,&#8221; Sinise continued — and Mac recorded that as well.
&#8220;Both these pieces of music began a collaboration that expanded to a vision Mac had of doing an entire album of music entitled Resurrection &amp; Revival, with a theme of bringing something that was old or unfinished back to life,&#8221; Sinise added.
But sadly, Mac would never see the finished product. &#8220;The week the album went to press, Mac lost his battle with cancer. He died on January 5, 2024 at 3:25pm, and was laid to rest on January 23rd.&#8221;
&#8220;Like any family experiencing such a loss, we are heartbroken and have been managing as best we can. As parents, it is so difficult losing a child,&#8221; Sinise wrote, adding that he had seen a lot of loss over the years, working with the families of fallen heroes. &#8220;It&#8217;s heartbreaking, and it&#8217;s just damn hard.&#8221;
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700760801843000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
He went on to compare his son&#8217;s long battle — more than five years — with a battle scene from the movie &#8220;1917.&#8221;
&#8220;Mac loved movies, and we always told him he reminded us of the soldier at the end of the extraordinary film 1917, running through the battlefield, bombs going off all around him, knocking him down one after the other, yet he keeps getting back up, refusing to quit and keeps running forward.&#8221;
&#8220;Mac was a man who loved his Catholic faith, and there is no doubt that his strong faith sustained him through the awful 5 ½ year battle with this crippling Chordoma cancer,&#8221; Sinise added, sharing a favorite quotation of Mac&#8217;s from St. Augustine: &#8220;You have made us for yourself oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.&#8221;
&#8220;I am so blessed, fortunate, and proud to be his dad,&#8221; he said.

2021 National Memorial Day Concert

‘I Am So Blessed, Fortunate, And Proud’: Gary Sinise Offers Tribute To His Late Son After Cancer Battle

'I Am So Blessed, Fortunate, And Proud': Gary Sinise Offers Tribute To His Late Son After Cancer Battle

Cancer

Celebrities

Hollywood star Gary Sinise knows being a conservative in Tinseltown isn&#8217;t easy, but acknowledged that he&#8217;s had a great career despite being outspoken about his political beliefs.
During Friday&#8217;s episode of CNN&#8217;s &#8220;Who&#8217;s Talking to Chris Wallace?,&#8221; the host asked the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/gary-sinise">67-year-old actor</a> about his decision to start the conservative group, Friends of Abe, for right-leaning Hollywood figures in 2004 and not just sticking to acting, the <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/gary-sinise-conservative-hollywood-political-beliefs-1235312439/">Hollywood Reporter</a> reported.
Sinise, who is best known for his role as Lt. Dan, the wounded veteran in the hit movie &#8220;Forrest Gump,&#8221; said the group started &#8220;during the early days of the Iraq War,&#8221; because he and his friends wanted to make sure soldiers never suffered for their service like Vietnam veterans did.
&#8220;I think so much was motivated by … what happened to our Vietnam veterans and the lack of support that they got and the way they were treated, and then we regretted it later on,&#8221; Sinise said.
&#8220;I didn’t want our Iraq War and Afghanistan veterans to fall prey to any of that kind of stuff,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I just wanted to get in there and support them. So, I started looking for people that were just in the same camp as me on that subject. And I found other folks in the movie and television business who enjoyed getting together.&#8221;
When asked if he thought his Hollywood career could&#8217;ve been bigger if he had just focused on acting, Sinise said he&#8217;s had a &#8220;blessed career&#8221; and that he &#8220;can&#8217;t complain,&#8221; the <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/01/30/gary-sinise-on-how-conservative-views-affected-career-it-played-a-major-role/">New York Post</a> reported.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Actor Gary Sinise opens up about how the role of Lt. Dan in “Forrest Gump” had an impact on his career. <a href="https://t.co/V7E6mMe6pF">pic.twitter.com/V7E6mMe6pF</a>
&mdash; CNN (@CNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1619895383630413825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I&#8217;ve had a blessed career in the movie and television and theater business,&#8221; Sinise shared. &#8220;I&#8217;ve done amazing things, I&#8217;ve worked with amazing people, and it really played a major role, if not the key element, in what I&#8217;m doing today on the service side.&#8221;
The star said he got to a point in his career where he could &#8220;pick and choose&#8221; roles that were &#8220;very specifically&#8221; based on the issues that matter to him, like &#8220;giving back and trying to serve our veteran community and our first responder community.&#8221;
In 2011, the &#8220;CSI:NY&#8221; star took his role as Lt. Dan one step further and founded the Gary Sinise Foundation, which offers a variety of programs and services for wounded veterans of all military branches.

DA83B63B-6499-4850-9260-1D42B60D1A82_1_201_a

Gary Sinise Talks About Being A Conservative In Hollywood And How It Affected His Career

conservative

Second Amendment

The Gary Sinise Foundation held its annual &#8220;Snowball Express&#8221; event virtually this year, but still found a way to bring joy to more than 750 Gold Star families and 1,800 children during a star-studded event featuring Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, Gordon Ramsay and Simone Biles.
According to the foundation&#8217;s <a href="https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/snowball-express/">website</a>, the Snowball Express event &#8220;serves the children and surviving spouse of fallen military heroes. We are committed to programming and support that holds space to honor their fallen heroes while also helping create new memories as they move forward.&#8221;
The foundation was started by Emmy-award-winning actor Gary Sinise and serves military families and veterans.
In a video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA2I8c6I5QM">released</a> after the event held on December 11, Sinise addressed supporters, saying: &#8220;Imagine you&#8217;re a child and you&#8217;ve just been told your parent is never coming home. At the Gary Sinise Foundation, we serve thousands of the children of our fallen heroes through our Snowball Express program, and on December 11th we brought 1800 of these children together for a virtual online event of healing and joy — and many of my pals sent in messages of support.&#8221;
As <a href="https://variety.com/2021/film/news/gary-sinise-foundation-virtual-snowball-express-celebrities-1235132675/">noted</a> by Variety, those &#8220;pals&#8221; included some of the most famous and lovable people in Hollywood and beyond:
<blockquote>This year’s Snowball Express included special messages from Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Steve Buscemi, Matthew McConaughey, Kristen Bell, Simone Biles, Caeleb Dressel, Jordan Chiles,  Brett Goldstein, Joe Mantegna, Norman Reedus, Tom Kenny, Zachary Levi, Stephen Boss, Allison Holker Boss, Kelli Erdmann, Preston Arsement, Laurie Metcalf, Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry, Eddie Cahill, Dean Cain, Gary LeVox and Mike Rowe.</blockquote>
Children and families watched several live performances and were able to share messages of support and remembrance about their military loved ones.
<div class="article__section article__section_type_text utility__text">
&#8220;The primary heartbeat of the Gary Sinise Foundation is lifting people up and bringing them joy and support and making sure that they know they&#8217;re appreciated,&#8221; Sinise told recently <a href="https://www.etonline.com/kristen-bell-tom-hanks-and-more-celebs-join-gary-sinise-for-virtual-2021-snowball-express-exclusive">told</a> Entertainment Tonight, &#8220;and that we&#8217;re grateful for them and that we don&#8217;t forget what we&#8217;re going through.&#8221;
The Snowball Express began in 2006 and was started by American Airlines, but joined forces with Sinise&#8217;s foundation in 2017. This year&#8217;s event was virtual due to COVID-19 concerns but in years past <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/news/airlines-holiday-kids/">American Airlines</a> has flown families to Disney World:
<blockquote>In 2019, the last time the event was held in person, American Airlines and its volunteers coordinated gate-side celebrations in scores of airports and flew more than 1,700 Gold Star family members to Orlando International Airport from 87 cities via chartered and commercial flights. In addition to being able to visit the theme park, while in Orlando families had access to counseling services; application support for educational scholarships; education about and access to medical and government benefits; financial counseling and assistance; mentoring; and aid for those with special needs or disabilities.</blockquote>
The primary mission of the Gary Sinise Foundation is to &#8220;serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need &#8230; by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.&#8221;
&#8220;Freedom and security are precious gifts that we, as Americans, should never take for granted,&#8221; a quote from Sinise reads on the website. &#8220;We must do all we can to extend our hand in times of need to those who willingly sacrifice each day to provide that freedom and security. While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation&#8217;s defenders, we can always do a little more.&#8221;
Video of the Snowball Express event can be seen here:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VA2I8c6I5QM" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
</div>
<div class="css-issjf2">
<div></div>
</div>

GarySinise

Gary Sinise Foundation Brings Joy To More Than 750 Gold Star Military Families In Annual ‘Snowball Express’ Event

Gold Star

The Gary Sinise Foundation is celebrating its ten year anniversary, marking a time filled with helping first responders, military service members, and their families.
The group’s website <a href="https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/blog/2021-06-30-gary-sinise-foundation-celebrates-10-years-of-service/">noted</a> its achievements over the last decade, writing, “We have been fortunate enough to grow the Gary Sinise Foundation into one of the country&#8217;s top-rated military, veteran, and first responder support organizations.”
Over the years, the foundation has launched events, trips, and even created a center to facilitate conversations. The group has helped military service members, veterans, and their families feel supported and encouraged as they carry out their missions. “The support of our mission and efforts to serve our nation’s heroes and their loved ones has made it possible for us to continue to positively impact the lives of so many,” the site added.
In 2011, award-winning actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise announced the start of the Gary Sinise Foundation. “Gary’s lifelong work supporting our nation’s heroes began in the early ‘80s with his creation of the Steppenwolf Theatre, where he supported Vietnam veterans in Chicago and continued in the ‘90s when his portrayal of Lt. Dan formed an enduring connection with service members across the country,” the foundation stated. “Gary’s dedication to our nation’s active-duty service members, veterans, first responders, and their families inspired him to launch the Gary Sinise Foundation,” it added.
Over the past several years, Gary and the foundation held several events honoring military service members. Gary notably did so in Hollywood and the entertainment world, an environment where traditional American values and military service are not always applauded. In 2014, Gary and the foundation “rolled out the red carpet for wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, and their guests from across the country for ‘Hollywood Salutes Heroes’ — a multiday celebration and expression of thanks to those who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.” Among other activities, guests were surprised by Gary, other celebrities, and over 100 local veterans on the Paramount lot.
The Gary Sinise Foundation also &#8220;put together a multi-day ‘Hollywood Adventure’ from October 12-14, 2016, to pay tribute to surviving spouses of fallen service members.” For the three-day trip, 23 spouses from all over the nation came to Los Angeles for the event. “For the Gold Star spouses who attend ‘Hollywood Adventure’ each year, sharing their experiences and reminding one another they are not alone, helps them find joy in the present once again,” the foundation noted.
In 2017, the foundation opened its Education and Outreach Center, a place that “brings civilians and defenders together for constructive dialogues and inspiring events.” The center has speaker series, summits, and workshop events that leave “visitors with a new respect for our defenders, raise awareness about the heroes living among them, and focus on educating communities about the importance of service over self.”
The year of 2020 saw changes for the foundation as it responded to the coronavirus pandemic. The foundation started its “Emergency COVID-19 Combat Service campaign in April 2020,” delivering over 60,000 meals to 313 locations in the United States and other countries. The foundation also helped first responder groups who needed personal protective equipment and financially aided “service members, veterans, first responders, healthcare professionals, and their families.” In all, the foundation’s campaign gave “over $485,000 in grants to 64 first responder departments nationwide and more than $500,000 in financial aid distributed to those in need.” The group also started its first Gary Sinise Foundation chapter in Central Florida last year in order to help people on a regional level.
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-gary-sinise-launches-new-initiative-with-home-depot-founders">reported</a> in February, the foundation began a whole new initiative with The Home Depot co-founders Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank. The new initiative will offer care to veterans and first responders who suffer “from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse.”
&#8220;As reported by <a href="https://atlantajewishtimes.timesofisrael.com/blank-marcus-and-lt-dan-to-aid-veterans/">The Atlanta Jewish Times</a>, both of Sinise’s new partners are donating $20 million from their personal foundations in order to provide support to the <a href="https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/avalon-network/">Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network</a>. The program will add onto the work that has been completed by the Marcus Institute for Brain Health and the Boulder Crest Foundation’s Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) program,&#8221; The Daily Wire reported.
In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYEqHKdmChY&amp;feature=youtu.be">video</a> announcing the network earlier this year, Sinise discussed the “epidemic of invisible wounds” that veterans and first responders experience. He added that these “invisible wounds” have “visible manifestations like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse which affect not only the veterans and first responders themselves, but their families, as well…these invisible wounds too often can lead to suicide.”
In keeping with his foundation&#8217;s mission, Sinise has said, &#8220;While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation&#8217;s defenders, we can always do a little more.&#8221;
Donate to the foundation&#8217;s 10th anniversary campaign <a href="https://donate.garysinisefoundation.org/campaign/10th-anniversary/c343922">here</a>.
Watch the 10-year anniversary video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF2hGQFclQc">below</a>:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF2hGQFclQc

WATCH: Gary Sinise Foundation Celebrates 10 Years Of Service

The Gary Sinise Foundation is starting a whole new initiative with The Home Depot co-founders Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank. The new initiative will offer care to veterans and first responders who suffer &#8220;from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse.&#8221;
As reported by <a href="https://atlantajewishtimes.timesofisrael.com/blank-marcus-and-lt-dan-to-aid-veterans/">The Atlanta Jewish Times</a>, both of Sinise&#8217;s new partners are donating $20 million from their personal foundations in order to provide support to the <a href="https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/avalon-network/">Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network</a>. The program will add onto the work that has been completed by the Marcus Institute for Brain Health and the Boulder Crest Foundation’s Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) program.
In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYEqHKdmChY&amp;feature=youtu.be">video</a> announcing the network, Sinise discussed the &#8220;epidemic of invisible wounds&#8221; that veterans and first responders experience. He added that these &#8220;invisible wounds&#8221; have &#8220;visible manifestations like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse which affect not only the veterans and first responders themselves, but their families, as well&#8230;these invisible wounds too often can lead to suicide.&#8221;
The new initiative is part of the &#8220;relief and resiliency program.&#8221; Sinise explains that the program will leverage &#8220;the science of post-traumatic growth, a framework that explains the positive transformation that can occur following trauma.&#8221;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYEqHKdmChY&#038;feature=youtu.be
The program will create twenty sites across the country to &#8220;serve veterans, first responders and their families,&#8221; The Atlanta Jewish Times notes. The name of the foundation <a href="https://atlantajewishtimes.timesofisrael.com/blank-marcus-and-lt-dan-to-aid-veterans/">reportedly</a> incorporates the name Avalon as a reference to the island where King Arthur was taken in order to recover after his final battle.
In the announcement video, Sinise adds, &#8220;This was always my intention, my mission from the beginning — to always do a little more to be there for our nation&#8217;s defenders in their time of need.&#8221;
The Veterans Administration says that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq resulted in a larger percentage of traumatic brain injuries than previous conflicts. The Atlanta Jewish Times reports that the U.S. Defense Department has estimated that 22% of all combat wounds from those specific conflicts are brain injuries, which is 10% more than the Vietnam War.
The new initiative will mark the first time that Blank and Marcus have partnered together since co-founding The Home Depot. “Arthur and I, together at Home Depot, we recognized how important the military was to us,” said Marcus.
Marcus served in the Air National Guard for four years during the period of the Korean War in the early 1950s. “I appreciate the military,” he said. “These young people have put their lives on the line and, frankly, when they leave the service, they’re not getting the support they need.”
This is not the first time Sinise’s foundation has partnered with the Marcus and Home Depot foundations. They previously joined forces to build smart homes for wounded vets.
One of the twenty centers included in the network will be the Marcus Institute for Brain Health in Colorado, which cares for veterans and retired athletes that have &#8220;mild to moderate traumatic brain injuries (including concussion) and changes in psychological health.&#8221; The SHARE Military Initiative in Atlanta will also be among the centers working with the program.
In February 2019, Gary Sinise joined Ben Shapiro for an episode of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/sunday-special">The Ben Shapiro Show Sunday Special</a> to &#8220;discuss his road to Hollywood success, how he&#8217;s stayed grounded through it all, and his passion for supporting our troops, veterans, and their families.&#8221;

Celebrities Visit Build – March 22, 2018

WATCH: Gary Sinise Launches New Initiative With Home Depot Founders

First Responders

Mental Health

Military

The annual National Memorial Day Concert on PBS will take place on May 24, the Sunday before Memorial Day, albeit with some changes because of the coronavirus.
Actors Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise will host the program to honor military members who died in the line of duty. The program will feature at least a dozen other well-known figures, such as Gen. Colin Powell and gospel singer CeCe Winans, and music by the National Symphony Orchestra.
“We&#8217;re excited to announce our 2020 Memorial Day show, airing on Sunday, May 24, 2020, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. E.T.,” the event organizers announced last month. “Due to coronavirus, we will not host the show from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The show will air on PBS and the Armed Forces Network and will be live streamed on Facebook, YouTube, and our website.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Due to coronavirus, we will not host the show from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The show will air on PBS and the Armed Forces Network and will be live streamed on Facebook, YouTube, and our website.
&mdash; National Memorial Day Concert (@MemorialDayPBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/MemorialDayPBS/status/1255921927530692608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The concert, sponsored by Lockheed Martin, has taken place every year since 1989.
“The concert unites the country in remembrance and appreciation of those who gave their lives for our nation and serves those who are grieving through the mission put forward by Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural address, ‘Let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation&#8217;s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan,’” the concert’s <a href="https://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/about/the-concert/">page</a> on PBS’s website says.
Sinise is a staunch advocate for military members, veterans, first responders, and their families. His Gary Sinise Foundation, founded in 2011, has built dozens of special smart homes for wounded veterans, distributed hundreds of grants to military and first responder organizations, and most recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-gary-sinise-launches-emergency-covid-19-combat-service-to-help-first-responders-healthcare-professionals">delivered</a> thousands of units of protective equipment to healthcare workers combating the coronavirus.
“With the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) across the nation, the Gary Sinise Foundation has launched a dedicated campaign called, Emergency COVID-19 Combat Service, which addresses the needs and priorities of those it is entrusted by the American people to serve and honor, with the addition of healthcare professionals,” the foundation announced last month.
“During this public health crisis, Emergency COVID-19 Combat Service will be the gateway for providing grants to first responders in need of personal protective equipment when answering COVID-19 service calls,” the foundation said. “Financial assistance is also available to healthcare professionals, service members, veterans, first responders, and their families who have been impacted by the novel coronavirus.”
Last year, Sinise celebrated a quarter of a century advocating for injured veterans with the non-profit Disabled American Veterans (DAV). He first partnered with DAV after the group gave him an award for his performance as Lt. Dan in the 1994 film Forrest Gump.
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actor-gary-sinise-celebrates-25-years-veterans-eric-quintanar">The Daily Wire</a> reported at the time: “In 2003, as part of his calling to help veterans, Sinise started a rock cover band called the ‘Lt. Dan Band.’ Through performances on military bases around the globe, Sinise hopes to let veterans and active-duty military members know that ‘there are people out there who are aware of, and who understand the importance of keeping our military families strong in difficult times,’ according to an open-letter on the band’s website.”

2018 National Memorial Day Concert

Star-Studded National Memorial Day Concert Will Continue Despite The Coronavirus

Menu