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ACTOR WORKS TO HONOR DISABLED VETERANS --
Gary Sinise, "Lieutenant Dan," raises funds
for disabled vets memorial.
Gary Sinise as Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump
Story here...
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/
search/content/nation/epaper/
2007/01/27/a9a_sinise_0127.html
Story below:
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Actor works to honor disabled vets
By Christine Grimaldi
Palm Beach Post Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — "Lieutenant Dan" had a message for disabled veterans
Friday: Within a few years, a national memorial will honor them
permanently.
Actor Gary Sinise, who received an Oscar nomination for portraying the
crusty, double-amputee Vietnam veteran in the film Forrest Gump, said
the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial has raised half of the
$65 million needed for its completion.
"Lending a hand to these brave men and women is truly one of the most
rewarding things that I have ever done," said Sinise, the memorial's
national spokesman.
"They don't ask much. Knowing they are not forgotten and that their
sacrifice is appreciated can make a world of difference," Sinise said at
a National Press Club luncheon.
Palm Beach County philanthropist Lois Pope co-founded and chairs the
Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, which funds site design,
building and permanent maintenance.
Plans illustrate the 2-acre memorial adjacent to the National Mall and
in view of the Capitol, its focal point a tree-lined, triangular
reflecting pool with a five-point star situated in one corner. An
eternal flame will burn in the middle of the star.
To help raise money for the memorial, Reps. Dennis Moore, D-Kan., and
Mark Kirk, D-Ill., who also attended the luncheon, are sponsoring
legislation to mint and sell commemorative silver coins.
Sinise, who currently stars on the CBS series CSI: NY, has played his
bass guitar for American troops in Iraq with his "Lt. Dan Band" and is a
co-founder of Operation Iraqi Children, through which school supplies
are channeled to Iraqi children. He plans to perform in Iraq again in
May.
Leaving politics aside, Sinise spoke extensively about the troops and
the roughly 3 million permanently disabled American veterans. "One of
the hard lessons we learned in Vietnam is how not to treat our service
members," Sinise said.
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Larry Scott
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