Somewhere Bob Hope is Smiling: Hollywood Thanks Troops at Thanksgiving Concert
by Big Hollywood
Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Kevin Farley, Kristy Swanson, LeeAnn Tweeden…
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) – Gary Sinise and the Lieutenant Dan Band made their first appearance in Afghanistan performing for hundreds of Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Coast Guard members Nov. 23 here.
This visit is one in a long line of entertainment and celebrity visits to boost morale of servicemembers who are away from home and their loved ones during the holidays, said Col. Edward Shock, the Armed Forces Entertainment director.
That sentiment of thanking the troops during the holidays was echoed by the visitors.
“We understand and appreciate your sacrifice. We do not take you for granted,” Mr. Sinise told the crowd. “We’re grateful for you and your service and the sacrifice of your loved ones back home. Your families sacrifice so much, so often and we know they miss you. Thank you.”
Mr. Sinise also visited a remote Army outpost near the Pakistan border where he met with Soldiers and distributed humanitarian supplies to more than 50 Afghan children.
While Mr. Sinise visited the remote outpost, other actors visited the Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Airfield to meet the staff and visit with patients.
Read the full story here.
Anyone who knows anyone in the military, especially someone stationed overseas, will tell you that these visits mean the world to our troops.
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54 Comments
Not to shift the praise from the troops, God bless them, but Mr. Sinise is such a class act. It's a shame more "stars" can't be as grounded as he is.
Gary Sinese is American Exceptionalism personified. How unique, an actor with a working brain and heart in the right places. Now here's a performer whose work I can honestly support and feel good about it.
God bless you Mr. Sinise. My admiration for you is only exceeded by those on the firing line. You are sacrificing so much that many of your colleagues can't be troubled to do and I thank you for providing energy and spirit for the brave men and women serving in our interest.
Mr. Nolte,
Can you toss up Gary Sinise's charity info, Operation Iraqi Children or any others he may have? I'm in a giving mood.
Where's Janeane Garofalo, Alec Baldwin, Joy Behar? Must have missed the plane!
I echo Steve's comments, but can we also know who else is on the trip? Who are the other entertainers whose work we should be patronizing?
Thank you, Mr Nolte, for showing that not all Hollywood celebs are unbelievably liberal.
Thank you, Mr. Sinise, and your fellow band members and actors for what you are doing. It not only means a lot to those troops you visited and performed for, but us as well here at home to know you care that much about them, and about America.
Those twits think flapping their gums is service enough. Mr. Sinise puts his money and deeds where his mouth is.
Kudos, sir!
Strangely enough, Al Franken has made the trip several times. Although (for better or worse) he can be excused now for his work in the senate.
Bob Hope is smiling ear to ear indeed!
God Bless you Mr. Sinise, you are a true American Patriot!
I did a little keyboard work myself and came up with Gary Sinise charities.
Operation Iraqi Children (originated by Mr. Sinise unless I'm mistaken): http://www.operationiraqichildren.org/
USO: http://www.uso.org/
Some others worth looking at: http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/205-gary-...
Here's a link to Gary Sinise's charities including Operation Iraqi Children which I believe he originated. I'm sending $50 to OIC even though I'm one of the 326% (or thereabouts) unemployed. They need it more than me and Mr. Sinise's inspiration is definitely worth it.
Gary Sinise is the man. 'Nuff said.
He also stopped at Landstuhl on the way.
He also stopped at Landstuhl on the way.
Gary Sinise is a great American
Thank you, Gary Sinise. This is too unbelievably awesome.
Thanks, Kevin, Kristy. Gary, LeeAnn & 'T'! You guys make me very, very proud to be a Hollywood-American.
When is someone going to make a movie with LT Dan's Son in Iraq and cast Gary in the movie which is a fact based account of the bravery our troops show every day?
Oh dear no. Our brave soldiers already have enough problems to deal with.
God Bless Gary Sinise. Love that man.
If Gary Sinse left "CSI: NY" that show would be dead to me. When Morpheus took over for Billy Petersen, I was skeptical but eventually won over because the ensemble and writing is so strong, but they cannot replace Sinse *evah* on "CSI: NY." Right now they might as well call that show "CSI: Mac Taylor and His Moderately Engaging Co-Workers"
Even if Mark Harmon walked off the set of "NCIS" tomorrow, I'd be perfectly fine with Andy Garcia or Ray Liotta replacing him… you gotta admit that show isn't nearly as awesome (or particularly pro-America) since Bellisario left as showrunner.
Having trouble with the OIC site for donations. I'll try to figure it out and post an update.
God Bless our military. Happy Thanksgiving!
I love you Gary Sinse! You are making Americans proud with the support you give our bravest! Happy Thanksgiving and THANK YOU!
Steve, Gary is also the spokes person for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Fund. This is a fund that I myself are donating 25% of my sales from the only film that honors our Vietnam Veterans and shows them in a heroic light. You can go to my website at http://www.forgottenheroesthemovie.com with your purchase of my DVD $5.00 of each sale goes to the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Fund. When I met Gary and told him what we were doing for one of his charities he just about jumped on top of me in a huge bear hug and thanked me for what we are doing. I feel beacuse I have the only 35mm narrative film that honors our Vietnam vets as a filmmaker I wanted to give something back to our incredible veterans. If you are in a giving mood you can buy the DVD, own a great little film and you would have made a donation to a Gary Sinise charity.
Gary Sinise – a man who deserves to be called a "STAR."
Gary Sinise–a patriot; a decent, humane & thoughtful man; someone who is not afraid to express his love and appreciation for our country. God bless the troops, Gary, the band, Kristi, Mykelti, LeeAnn, Kevin and all those who made the event possible.
In these strange times, at least we have him as a role model.
Thanks Jack. I just placed an order for your film and look forward to watching. I know $5 won't exactly go a long way but I hope others here will pitch in too. I'm still trying to figure out the OIC donation process.
Ummm, no, no he cannot be excused. Not for the shameful way he and his handlers stole the election, not for the way he has voted since being seated. not.at.all. There will be no peace until this fraud is unseated and out of Washington.
HOORAY FOR GARY SINISE AND CO.!
I've been hearing about his tours for the last few years.
Steve, thank you so much for your order and I just received it and will process it out for you. Your donation along with I hope a few 100,000 sales will be a major contribution towards the building of this Memorial and one day if you ever vist that Memorial, you will have had a small part of making it happen. It is a win, win win situtation for anyone that buys the FORGOTTEN HEROES DVD. I am trying to sell my DVD through a grass roots effort, I have done over 90 radio shows and I won't quit until I reach my goal. What I need is PR and exposure on conservative blogs which I am receiving. Many blogs have posted my poster and linked to my site. Thanks again for your purchase of my small indie film and I know you will enjoy the message that have been trying to market for over twenty years to honor a generation of Vietnam Vets that were spit upon by the left in film.
Oh, no no. I meant strictly in the sense that he can't go there as often anymore. For all the crap he pulls, this only got him a small balance of karma. 2014 can't come soon enough for the people of Minnesota.
They are either working on a script about how when these child-killing soldiers come home, they go crazy and ruin everyone's Thanksgiving…OR…They can't fly there because of the carbon footprint…OR…They just plain suck. I say it's all three.
Lieutenant Dan is one of my favorite movie characters.
Sinise is a great actor and a damn good human.
God Bless You, Gary and crew. I hope you tell all of our fine servicemen and women how very much we appreciate their keeping us free.
God Bless you Mr. Sinise. It's people like you and Bo Derek and the things you do for our troops that give me hope that not all is lost.
Couldn't even try to say it better. Gary Sinese is all class.
Garofalo, Alex and Behar are entertaining the Taliban in Bora Bora
How nice to still have someone from Hollywood with "Star" quality!. Thanks for ministering to the troops Mr. Sinise.
Kudos to Gary and all USO supporters.
Here's hoping our troops have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving.
Mr. Sinise is definitely a class act. I am glad we have someone like him to tell the troops "We do not take you for granted."
Thank God for the troops!!!
OOH-Rah!
I've always like Gary Sinise.
I hope our troops do too!
Semper Fi, boys!
Bravo Zulu, Gary and all who accompanied you!
Gary Sinise is one of the few genuine great Hollywood actors who is a total class act.
Ditto.
He's pretty underrated, and I have always wanted to see him on stage before it's too late.
*MissQuinn*
What a great gift you are Mr. Sinise, to all of our troops! You have let them know that they are NOT alone!! God bless you and our troops, may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
Gary Sinise is the best. I wouldn't rent a Clooney movie, but I'd walk through snow to watch Gary Sinise. He is a man I respect. God bless you Mr. Sinise; you are a patriot and a true humanitarian.
Good job!!
Gary Sinise is hero to military unlike Janeane Garofalo, Alec Baldwin, Joy Behar they all villains.
Thank you.
Superb website…
[...]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[...]……
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