Why Gary Sinise is the Most Underrated Person in the World

Playing second fiddle to Tom Hanks in Forest Gump or Apollo 13, it would be easy for any celebrity to fade into the shadows. However, the role Gary Sinise has been playing in real life deserves to be brought into the limelight. The dedication that he has shown to disabled veterans and their causes for decades represents an act of kindness that goes well beyond the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Read on to learn more about the many great works that Gary Sinise is doing on behalf of American service men and women and how you can help.

Recently, Gary Sinise made an exclusive appearance at a National Press Club luncheon in Washington, D.C. speak about his support of American service personnel and the campaign to build a $65 million physical tribute to the three million living disabled veterans and those who have passed away. Following his inspiring appearance at the National Press Club, Sinise sat down for an interview with Kelly Wright of the cable news program Fox & friends, which was aired the following Sunday, January 28, 2007. During this interview, Sinise gave an overview of some of his recent activities in support of American veterans, including the campaign to build a tribute to disabled veterans.

American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial

Gary Sinise was recently named spokesman for the Disabled Veterans Life Memorial Foundation. The mission of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial is to raise funds to build a permanent memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor all disabled veterans. In his Fox & friends interview, Sinise enumerated that there are 3,000,000 disabled veterans living in our country today. He cited the fact that they do not have any kind of tribute to them to honor the sacrifice that they made.

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial will express America's lasting gratitude disabled veterans and also honor their loved ones and caregivers. The Memorial will be located adjacent to the National Mall, and across Independence Avenue from the U.S. Botanic Garden, at Washington Avenue (Canal Street) and Second Street, SW. It will cover a two-acre expanse within full view of the U.S. Capitol.

The marble and glass design of the Memorial, meant to convey an interplay of strength and vulnerability, loss and renewal, was designed by Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd. A star-shaped reflecting pool will serve as the focal point of the Memorial, its surface broken only by a single eternal flame.

There are many ways that you, too, can help Gary Sinise and his efforts on behalf of the Disabled Veterans Life Memorial Foundation. The foundation's campaign is underway and must raise the entire cost of construction plus 10% for perpetual maintenance prior to groundbreaking. Visit the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial website (www.avdlm.com) to learn about current and future ways to help support America's tribute to our most courageous heroes, our disabled veterans.

Lt. Dan Band

Sinise took some time in his interview with Kelly Wright to explain to him the genesis of the Lt. Dan Band. He explained how the band emerged after a series of USO tours. Rather than just traveling with the USO shaking hands, Sinise thought it would be more fun to bring a band with him.

In addition to entertaining the troops as part of the USO tours, the Lt. Dan Band's concerts are often used as fundraisers for a variety of military related charities, such as the Fisher Houses. The Fisher Houses provide free accommodations for families of wounded service men and women while they stay at military hospitals across the country to go through their rehabilitation.

Although some of the Lt. Dan Band performances are private, many are public. You can get involved in their cause and enjoy some great music by heading out to see them next time they perform in a city near you. Visit their website for their latest concert schedule. (www.ltdanband.com)

Operation Iraqi Children

At the close of Sinise's interview on Fox & friends, Kelly Wright took a moment to mention the Operation Iraqi Children organization, of which Sinise is a co-founder. During his National Press Club speech, Sinise cited that the organization was responsible for shipping 300,000 school supply kits to U.S. soldiers in Iraq to distribute to Iraqi school children to date. Sinise explains on the organization's web site that he began this organization because he saw the tremendous need for the school supplies in Iraq, and he knew this would help to promote good will between the Iraqis and the Americans.

There are many ways that you can get involved with promoting the goodwill efforts of Operation Iraqi Children. On the organization's web site as of this writing, you will find a Public Service Announcement recorded by Gary Sinise that you can send to your local radio station. There is also an e-mail available for distribution. Visit their web site to learn about how you can donate to or otherwise support Operation Iraqi Children and help spread goodwill between the people of our two countries. (www.operationiraqichildren.org)

Life is like a box of chocolates...

When Gary Sinise became involved with supporting veterans and their issues during the 1980s, he didn't know that he would someday take on his Academy Award Nominated role as Lt. Dan Taylor in the film Forest Gump, nor did he know that the September 11th 2001 attacks would reign down on America and also inspire and further impact his continued involvement with veterans causes. The fact is, as Sinise explained during his National Press Club speech, that he became involved with supporting veterans largely due to a very moving theatrical experience that he had with veterans of the Vietnam war.

Also, he has many ties to the military through his own and his wife's family. Sinise explained some of the personal impact that 9/11 had on him during his interview with Wright, "So I thought, well, if they could do this with 19 guys with box cutters, you know, what could they do with very, very serious weapons and bomb-makers?"

Sinise expressed his unwillingness to get mired in the politics of the issues currently surrounding our military actions in Iraq. He would rather focus on the troops, those few, courageous individuals who voluntarily have given of themselves to serve our country. He said that he wants to do his part to make sure that no troops are ever again treated the way that the Vietnam troops were treated when they returned home from war. Whether it's life imitating art or art imitating life, for his tireless and decades long efforts with supporting veterans and their issues, Gary Sinise deserves the moniker of Most Underrated Person in the World.

Sources:
The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. http://www.avdlm.com/memorial.php?page=memorial and http://www.avdlm.com/memorial.php?page=purpose. Retrieved January 29, 2007.