Photo By Pfc. Reba James | Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band play at the free local concert, March 30 at the...... read more read more
Subscribe
YUMA, Ariz. - As the sound of the National Anthem and the setting sun faded into the background, the red white and blue United States flag was taken down and unsnapped from the halyard, then folded as the audience spread across Marine Corps Air Station Yuma’s parade field looked on in respect.
Military service members, their families, and the local community were treated to a free live performance of the Lt. Dan Band aboard MCAS Yuma Sat., March 30.
As spectators returned their attention to the stage before them on the parade field, Col. Robert C. Kuckuk, Commanding Officer of MCAS Yuma, took the stage to announce and welcome Gary Sinise of the Lt. Dan Band for coming to MCAS Yuma as a part of his concerts for troops and their families with the United Services Organization.
The band is named after a character Sinise played in the 1994 blockbuster film, “Forrest Gump,” the role of Army Lt. Dan Taylor opposite Tom Hanks, which was the inspiration for the band’s name Lt. Dan Band.
“It’s a movie everyone has seen, and when I ask the crowd if they have seen it they usually cheer,” said Sinise. “There hasn’t been a time when anyone in the crowd has not seen the movie.”
“People in the military know Lt. Dan and because he is able to adapt and work through his injuries they are able to relate to him,” explained Sinise. “They know what he had to go through and he lives with the injuries.”
Sinise, an actor, filmmaker, and bass guitarist for the Lt. Dan Band, is an avid supporter of service members and has toured military installations and performed at many locations to boost morale and show his appreciation.
His sixth USO show this year and third time to MCAS Yuma, Sinise has been all around the globe to support the troops from Iraq to Okinawa, Japan. He said that he plays to entertain and boost morale of the service members.
“These are people that sacrifice themselves every day and we can’t forget them,” said Sinise. “Some of them have been badly hurt or their loved ones may have been killed. This is one way I get to show my appreciation and families and loved ones can gather.”
“We live in a dangerous world and we need our military to be strong and resilient,” said Sinise.”We need them to know that people appreciate them.”
He may play a lead role in the hit series CSI: New York as Detective Mac Taylor, but Sinise is all about supporting war veterans' organizations, and he dedicates much of his time to helping troops and their families. Sinise even has set up a self-titled foundation to help those in need, the Gary Sinise Foundation, and is involved with Building for America’s Bravest, which help to build Smart Homes for injured heroes.
“I’m humbled to play for them, for the service members,” said Sinise.
When asked about supporting the military, Sinise said that he knows the service members have stress on their minds and bodies. So, the USO tours and the foundations he supports help him to give back to those who sacrifice, and let them know that people care and appreciate what they do.
Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band entertained over 2,000 active duty, reserve, retirees, veterans and their families aboard MCAS Yuma promoting esprit de corps, goodwill and fellowship among service members, their families and the local community at MCAS Yuma.
| Date Taken: | 03.30.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.10.2013 12:19 |
| Story ID: | 104935 |
| Location: | YUMA, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 128 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, MCAS Yuma rocks out with Lt Dan Band, by PFC Reba James, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT