In honor of Memorial Day, actor and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation appeared on “One Nation with Brian Kilmeade” to discuss his foundation’s work supporting veterans and their families and the importance of honoring “the sacrifices made in service to our country.”
The “Forrest Gump” actor emphasized the importance of the National Memorial Day Concert and shared several personal stories of veterans who have benefited from his foundation’s work.
Sinise, along with fellow actor Joe Mantegna, has been the host of the National Memorial Day Concert since 2005. Sinise explained how in 2005 he joined the United Service Organizations (USO) tour performing with his band for troops overseas, and then flew to Washington, DC in May 2005 to perform at that year’s National Memorial Day Concert.
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“I fell in love with it. I mean, it was the best thing I could do,” he said. “I tried to bring the country together with this National Memorial Day concert, and I’ve been coming back every year since.” He added that this year’s concert will be a 90-minute show with an “incredible” cast of actors, singers and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade said the Sinise Foundation is “working with survivors and [had] “Injuries sustained in combat have forced many to adapt to a new way of life,” Sinise said, highlighting the stories of veterans such as retired Army Maj. Jeremy Haines and retired Navy Petty Officer First Class Joshua Geddes.
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Sinise said Haines was shot by an Afghan soldier in Afghanistan and became a paraplegic. His foundation worked with Haines to build a “mortgage-free home with specially adapted smart technology” for his wife, Chelsea, who also served in the Army. Geddes, who was also injured and became a paraplegic, acquired the home this month, according to the foundation’s website.
“We just donated our 92nd home a few weeks ago,” Sinise added.
“Every time an injured person walks through the door and into a home, it’s a huge event. We have a lot of great partners that work with the Gary Sinise Foundation. If you go to our website, GarySiniseFoundation.org, and look at our RISE (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program, you’ll find dozens of organizations and companies that provide roofing, flooring, tiling, plumbing, all kinds of materials,” Sinise said.
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“We’ve received a lot of support from across the country, people who, like me, feel that we should give back to those who have sacrificed so much for us. And this homebuilding, homebuilding initiative is something very special, especially when those families move into their homes.”
At the end of the interview, Kilmeade offered his condolences on the recent death of Sinise’s son, Macanna Anthony “Mac” Sinise. Sinise said his father was a musician and had recorded an album shortly before his death, with all proceeds going to the Gary Sinise Foundation.
“If you go to GarySiniseFoundation.org, you can read about Mac, you can see where the music is,” Sinise said.
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