Gary Sinise Fights Back Tears After Emotional Outpouring Of Thanks From Tom Hanks & Others

Jul 03, 2023

Gary Sinise is a celebrated actor, not just for his roles but also for his real-life work with veterans. Most people remember Sinise from his role as Lt. Dan in the hit movie "Forrest Gump." However, Sinise has achieved much more than the movies he has starred in and continues to make an impact on hundreds of lives every year through his work at his foundation.

Moreover, he has also worked in theater as well as television series. He has won several accolades and awards for his movies, and most impressively, he has won various national honors for his humanitarian work with veterans. He continues to be recognized for his dedication to the United States troops even today.

Sinise also published a memoir called "Grateful American" in 2018, which details his life and experiences as he reflects on blessings, gratitude and giving back to his community. This is not a typical memoir that celebrities write, but Sinise is no typical celebrity.

Even though his life has been lived honorably, he has been through difficulties and challenges that he has overcome with the support of his family. Even with his stature and success, however, Sinise has remained a humble man whose life mission does not waver. 

Though his identity as an actor has been prominent, his selfless dedication to making veteran lives better comes to the forefront every time. He may have not known how much his role as Lt. Dan would affect him when he first auditioned for it, but it has truly been a life-changing event, not just for Sinise but also for the hundreds of veterans who continue to be impacted because of his work. 

Sinise is one of the most well-known actors of today. He has a cache of incredible roles, and his first merit was an Obie Award in 1982 for his direction of the Steppenwolf production "True West." His true breakthrough, however, came with his role as Lt. Dan in the acclaimed 1994 movie "Forrest Gump." Not only did this role earn him an Oscar nomination and put him on the map in Hollywood, but it also steered his life into a purpose that he has made into his life's work ever since. 

In the movie, Sinise's role as the bitter veteran who was disillusioned with his life after having to go through a double amputation while on active duty was powerful. His portrayal of the character eventually coming to terms with his disability and thriving later on in the movie remains with audiences for decades. His role resonated with veterans across America, which opened Sinise's eyes to the difficulties that veterans continue to face once they come back home. 

Speaking about his experience, Sinise told Saturday Evening Post: 

"Prior to doing the movie, I had been involved with Vietnam veterans groups, so I wanted to play that part very badly. But afterwards, vets reached out to me, and it just snowballed." 

He began the Lt. Dan Band in 2004, which he co-founded with musician Kimo Williams. He has since played several shows in front of active-duty troops and veterans, both in the United States and abroad. 

Sinise also launched the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011, which has raised millions of dollars every year for programs that benefit military veterans and members on active duty. Moreover, the foundation also provides smart homes for wounded veterans.  

The Gary Sinise Foundation celebrated its 10-year anniversary in November 2021. Sinise spoke out on Veteran’s Day that year to share some of his inspiration behind creating the charity and to deliver a message to the public. 

Vietnam veterans have always held a special place in Sinise’s heart, especially because he personally knows people who served in Vietnam. 

"I feel a duty, a responsibility to do a little more," Sinise told KMBC. "They came home and people were spitting on them. People were shouting at them. I have friends who are Vietnam veterans who actually had feces thrown at them when they got off the airplane.”

Witnessing this treatment spurred Sinise to action. "I had spent time with a lot of actual Vietnam veterans, and I had a lot of compassion for them. I wanted to help them," he said. 

The actor’s role in “Forrest Gump” was also an inspiration for Sinise’s foundation. He shared:

"Lt. Dan was now going to become a bigger role in my life because he was a wounded veteran." 

Sinise’s charity provides fully accessible and mortgage-free homes for disabled veterans. 

Despite all of his many accolades for acting, Sinise sees the work he does with his foundation to be his true calling. "When joy connects to a mission, a life of purpose begins to take shape," he remarked.

Sinise ended his interview with KMBC by encouraging others to reach out in support of active military members and veterans. He stated, "If everybody in the country did just a little more, you know pat them on the back when you see a soldier walking through the airport. Just go up and say, 'You know, I appreciate what you do,' that could change somebody's life.” 

Sinise’s efforts to help others have not gone unnoticed. In honor of all he has done for the military community, he was surprised with a tribute from some of the people he worked so hard to help, as well as a few famous faces.

In September 2019, the Gary Sinise Foundation shared a special video on its YouTube channel. In it, Sinise could be seen receiving quite a surprise. After being told to sit, he was presented with a laptop and a video began to play for him. It started off with a clip of comedian Jay Leno expressing his gratitude for everything Sinise has done “for the men and women of the armed forces.” After Leno, more celebrities showed up in the clip to thank him, including director Ron Howard, General Colin Powell, Robert DeNiro, Maria Shriver, Steve Buscemi, Joe Mantegna, Kristin Chenoweth, Mayim Bialik and Sela Ward. 

They were joined by military heroes, first responders, Medal of Honor recipients, Gold Star families and the USO, as well as their family members, who all expressed their thanks to the star for his unwavering commitment to his humanitarian work and for being a “hero to the heroes of this country.” The last clip was from none other than Forrest Gump himself, Tom Hanks, who exclaimed, “Thanks Lt. Dan!”

Sinise couldn’t help but be moved to tears by the unexpected video. His initial reaction was to ask, “When did they do that?” before admitting that he was “in shock.” After being told that he had “impacted a lot of lives” and that the people in the video simply wanted to say they were grateful for him, Sinise sniffed back tears. Still in a state of disbelief over the outpouring of thanks, Sinise could only respond:

“Thank you everybody!”

What do you think of the efforts Gary Sinise has made for the men and women in the military? Do you find it inspiring? If so, let us know, then pass this on to all your friends and family who would love to hear about Sinise's work, too!