In honor of Memorial Day, Gary Siniseactor and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation, joined “One Nation with Brian Kilmeade” to discuss his foundation’s work supporting veterans and their families and the importance of honoring the “sacrifices that were made for our country”.
The “Forrest Gump” actor highlighted the importance of the National Memorial Day concert and shared some personal stories of veterans who have benefited from his foundation’s efforts.
Since 2005, Sinise has co-hosted the National Memorial Day Concert with fellow actor Joe Mantegna. Sinise explained how in 2005 he was on a United Service Organizations (USO) tour playing with his band for troops overseas and flew to Washington, D.C. in May 2005 to perform in the National Memorial Day concert that year.
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“It hooked me. I mean, it became the best thing I could do,” he said. “I’m trying 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 include a 90-minute show with a “terrific” cast, actors, singers and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade highlighted the Sinise Foundation’s efforts to build homes for “those who survived and had to adapt to a new way of life due to combat injuries.” Sinise highlighted the stories of veterans like Ret. Army Maj. Jeremy Haynes and Ret. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Joshua Geddis.
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Haynes was paralyzed below the waist in Afghanistan after being shot by an Afghan soldier, Sinise said. His foundation worked with Haynes to create a “specially adapted, mortgage-free, smart home” for Haynes and his wife Chelsea, who also served in the military. Likewise, Geddis took possession of his home this month after suffering injuries that left him paraplegic, according to the Foundation’s website.
Sinise added: “We just handed over our 92nd house just a few weeks ago.”
“Any time one of our injured people walks through the door and takes over the house, it’s a really big deal. There are so many great partners that team up with the Gary Sinise Foundation. If you visit our website, GarySiniseFoundation.org, and you look at our RISE (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program, you will see just dozens of organizations, companies that provide roofing, flooring, tiling, plumbing and all kinds of work. of materials,” Sinise said.
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“We have a lot of support from across the country, people who feel like I do that we should give back to those who have sacrificed so much for us and this house building, this house building effort is very, very special, especially when this family moves into the house.
Towards the end of the interview, Kilmeade expressed his condolences for the recent loss of Sinise’s son, McCanna Anthony “Mac” Sinise. Sinise shared that Mac was a musician and recorded an album shortly before his passing, with all proceeds going to the Gary Sinise Foundation.
“If you go to GarySiniseFoundation.org, you can read Mac’s story. You can see where the music is,” Sinise said.
Original article source: Actor Gary Sinise ‘tries to bring the country together’ with National Memorial Day concert
