Subscribe
The Lt. Dan Band performed on stage for military members at the Goettge Memorial Field house on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Mar. 5, 2017. Gary Sinise, founder of Lt. Dan Band and the Gary Sinise Foundation, helps support service members, veterans, first responders and their families.
Many people know Sinise from his role as Lt. Dan in the film Forrest Gump, but that was not his first experience with the military.
"I met my wife’s two brothers and her sister’s husband," said Sinise. "They’re all Vietnam veterans, and they educated me about what it was like to be a Vietnam veteran and come home to a nation that turned its back on them. I didn’t want that to happen again after we started deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan, so I wanted to go pat you on the back and make sure you know you haven’t been forgotten."
The concert welcomed all military members and their families. The event was free and food was provided for all who attended.
"It’s an important thing to me to be able to say thank you and to be able to recognize the military for the importance of what they do," said Sinise. "I feel like I’m a beneficiary of what you all do, you volunteer to stand up for your country, and I want to stand up for you. It makes me feel good to know that there’s something I can do to support on many fronts through my foundation and through concerts."
The concert on Camp Lejeune is one of many Sinise has performed for military members and their families around the world. Ice skating, food sampling, family-friendly basketball and a Snowzilla Giant Slide were all provided as entertainment before the concert started.
"Gary Sinise and his band and all the charitable organizations associated with it are always welcome aboard Camp Lejeune," said Col. Michael Scalise, deputy commander, Marine Corps Installations East - Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. "He personally has spent some time with the naval hospital today. It’s pretty neat that he is very prominent in society and he pauses to thank those that serve their country. I think It’s says a lot about who he is."
The event was filled with over 4,000 service members and their families. Those that stayed for the concert cheered and shouted as Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band played a variety of hit songs from numerous genres for over two hours.
"I think it’s great that we see a good turnout," said Scalise. "Whether you have a thousand or five people it doesn’t matter to him he’s going to preform, and he’s going to give back to the members of the armed forces."
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.29.2017 13:21 |
| Story ID: | 226271 |
| Location: | NC, US |
| Web Views: | 21 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Camp Lejeune hosts Lt Dan Band, March Meltdown, by Sgt Juan Madrigal, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT