Actor and activist Gary Sinise is being celebrated on his 65th birthday. The well-known actor, who co-founded the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago and played the iconic veteran role of Lieutenant Dan Taylor in “Forest Gump,” has made the second chapter of his life about service.
Sinise counts military personnel among his family and close friends, which is part of what made the role of paraplegic Lt. Dan Taylor so meaningful for him. Then after the devastating terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Sinise felt called to give back in a bigger way to the soldiers and first responders who were risking life and limb on the front lines.
Sinise found that real-life veterans appreciated this portrayal. “I just want them to know that they are appreciated and not forgotten,” he said.
One of Sinise’s longest-lasting and most popular veterans’ service projects has been the Lt. Dan Band, founded in 2004, whose motto is “Honor. Gratitude. Rock & Roll.” Sinise plays bass in the band and has been touring through the USO ever since, visiting active-duty soldiers at American bases in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Korea, Japan, Hawaii, and beyond.
“I could never have predicted that over sixteen years later this band would have performed hundreds of shows for thousands of great people all over the world. Our performances for our service members on military bases around the globe have meant so much to me.”To date, the Lt. Dan band has made a staggering 488 appearances around the world.
Most people might feel more than happy to rest on their laurels after such achievements. What makes Sinise unique is that there’s no victory lap for him. As long as there are veterans deployed around the world in defense of America’s freedom, he will be there to let them know how much their sacrifice is appreciated.