‘Every Day Is Veterans Day’: Gary Sinise Makes It Life Mission To Honor Those Who Defend

Gary Sinise walked into the largest U.S. overseas hospital in Germany more than two decades ago, but somehow it feels like yesterday.

Sinise, a renowned actor who has now devoted his life to helping veterans, was visiting The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center where U.S. soldiers go to get treatment after being injured in battle. He was hesitant about the experience, but it turned out to be one that would change both his life, and that of thousands of veterans he’s helped since that day.

“I was thinking about myself. I was thinking about how I would react, seeing people missing their arms and legs, and burned up and everything like that,” Sinise told The Daily Wire. “When I left there, I realized what I had done by just showing up, by just walking in the room and talking to them, and telling them I appreciated them and that I didn’t forget them, and I came to see them.”

“What that did for them was very positive, and I realized that I left the rooms a little bit better than when I walked into them,” Sinise said. “That made me want to go back and do it again and again and again and again.”

Sinise had always had a passion for honoring those who served, but naturally, his appearances visiting troops picked up after playing Lieutenant Dan, a wounded Vietnam vet, in the film “Forrest Gump.” His visits inspired Sinise to treat every day like Veterans Day.

He’s doing that by running The Gary Sinise Foundation. The non-profit was founded in 2011 to honor veterans, first responders, and their families. He personally supports countless veteran organizations, including CreatiVets, an organization he just donated $1 million to buy an old church in Nashville that will be transformed into a space for veterans to express their stories through music and art.

“I’m very supportive of these programs,” Sinise said. “I’m a musician myself, and I know what music does for me. And it’s been very healing through some difficult times that we’ve had. My son was a musician. They talked about honoring my son through this service effort. And it just seemed to make great sense.”

Sinise’s son Mac died nearly two years ago of cancer. CreatiVets is dedicating its new performance center to Mac, and his presence will be felt throughout the music center through stained-glass windows made by veterans who are inspired by music from Mac’s first album.

“There are 10 songs on my son’s first record called Resurrection and Revival. Each stained glass panel represents a different song from the first record.”

Every project, donation, and appearance keeps the spirit of Veterans Day going throughout the year.

“Each and every day is Veterans Day at the Gary Sinise Foundation and at Creative Vets as well. We’re gonna keep doing what we do to make sure the men and women who serve our country are taken care of.”

Not everyone can donate millions or host a fundraiser, but Sinise firmly believes everyone can honor veterans every day.

“You never know if you’re going to walk up to somebody who’s in uniform or something like that, or a veteran with a hat on … they might have just lost two buddies. They may have been through some very, very difficult times because of their service to our country, and somebody noticing them and patting them on the back and expressing gratitude and appreciation … That can go a long way.”

Sinise loves this quote by President Calvin Coolidge: “The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.”

“That makes a lot of sense. If we forget our veterans, if we forget our military personnel, if we forget those that are willing to go into harm’s way for people they don’t know, it weakens our nation, and we don’t want that,” Sinise said.

This Veterans Day, Sinise is honoring Veterans by playing for hundreds of them on Nashville’s most prestigious stage, The Grand Ole Opry. Sinise’s band, The Lt. Dan Band, was formed in 2003 to play for U.S. troops around the world, so it’s fitting Sinise gets the band back together in Nashville for a November 11 performance.

This show will be different. Sinise’s Opry setlist features music by his late son, Mac, who shared the same passion for veterans as him.

“He is going to make his Opry debut tonight. I’m kind of knocked out by the fact that we’re going to be playing there on Veterans Day. We’re going to have hundreds of veterans there, and they’re going to hear Mac’s music tonight. It’s pretty special.”

It will be a night to remember for a cause Sinise wants you to never forget.

“I’m grateful that I live in this country, and I’m grateful for the people who are willing to defend it and fight for it.”