‘Captain Dan’ Strikes Again
Gary Sinise Flew 1,000 Children of Fallen Soldiers to Disney World for Christmas
By: Justin Caruso
“Each one of these children who are going on these airplanes have lost a parent in military services—either combat related or illness or unfortunately suicide sometimes,” The Gary Sinise Foundation founder said. “We wanna take care of these kids and make sure they know we don’t forget.”
The families took 15 planes and stayed at Disney for five days, The Epoch Times reports.
Anna Carrera @AnnaWTHR
What a sendoff for families as they board the Snowball Express! @INDairport -> Chicago -> Orlando for a special holiday trip in honor of their loved ones who died while serving our country. @GarySiniseFound @GarySinise @DoubleGee18 @WTHRcom #WTHRSunrise
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The Forrest Gump actor said in a social media post, “We Remember. Each flag representing the fallen hero of over 600 families attending GarySiniseFound 2018 Snowball Express event at WaltDisneyWorld Thank you to these Gold Star families, our amazing volunteers and all who supported our event.”
We Remember.
@GarySiniseFound 2018 Snowball Express event at @WaltDisneyWorld
Thank you to these Gold Star families, our amazing volunteers and all who supported our event.
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“Thank you so much @AmericanAir for the amazing support you give to those who serve and @GarySiniseFound . A tremendous spirit of volunteerism and giving back to our special Snowball families of the fallen. It’s been a great year. More to come in 2019. We Remember,” he said.
The 63-year-old actor has been a strong supporter of U.S. servicemen and women throughout his career. Last year, he visited Americans stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan for Christmas.
“Thank you to these brave men and women for your service to our country,” he said in a social media post.
I was going to write something here to sort of wrap it up, but the only thing I could come up with is, “Thank you, Gary.” That and it got a bit dusty in here.
Read the entire article here at Breitbart News
Category: Blue Skies, Feel Good Stories
OK, Besides Saint Mattis, I’m gay for Gary Sinise as well. (NTTAWWT)
This guy doesn’t stop amazing me with his dedication to the troops and the families of thereof.
Good on you Gary! Thanks for all you do! and yeah Chip, it got a little dusty here as well
Gary Sinise, a Real Man who truly cares and a Genuine Honorary USN CPO as well!
Amen!
The Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program – Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment – has built several dozen mortgage-free homes for severely injured veterans, including triple and quadruple amputees, and their families since the program’s start in 2011.
Gary is a tireless advocate for our troops, veterans, and military families. I salute you sir and applaud the work of your foundation.
Gary Sinise is a man of great character who I truly believe is an authentic advocate.
Yeah, dusty here…
*salute*
A GOOD MAN. What else can I say?
Nothing. That is the finest statement that can be made about a fellow, in my view.
That covers it quite well, HMC.
Most of the stuff he has done personally, we never read about. He is the real deal and a hero in his own right. Love the guy. Love what he does. When he finally leaves this world, Saint Peter will be holding the gate open wide for him.
Love him as an actor and even more as a patriot. If only all celebrities weren’t so self-obsessed and used their money and clout for something truly good.
God bless and keep you, Mr. Sinise.
You and 2/17 are right on the money. Most Celebs do just tiny bits of charity with an entourage of media and their ass-kissing entourage in tow while Gary Sinise does what he does sans any thought for himself!
Gary Sinise continues to be awesome.
How often do you say that about a guy from Hollywood, especially these days?
Actually, he’s from Chicago. Blue Island to be exact. In other words, solid working-class Midwest upbringing that he never lost. A true class act.
Class act all the way
As a member of a Gold Star Family, I wish we had a lot more people like him setting more examples for our youth – Gary Sinise is truly in a league of his own.
Gary Sinise does it right. Not for the fame or publicity, but because it’s the right thing to do and he truly believes in it. Hollywood, this is how it’s done.
Others seem to have come up with the right words, but I’m with you, AW1Ed. A simple “Thank You” is all I can find to say.
AW1Ed – thank you so much for posting this. My girlfriend, another Gold Star mom, took her only son’s only child on this adventure. The pictures she shared and the events she described are more than can be imagined.
Every child, and each accompanying adult, has two volunteers assigned to them, one from 7am to 3pm, one from 3pm to 11pm. Yep, 7am to 11pm, every day. These kids and families are never alone for one second, unless they want to be. So, 1000 kids means 4,000 volunteers. Yes, 4,000, and that’s not counting all those who come to the airports to see them off and welcome them home.
In addition to the Disney theme parks, flights, hotels and meals…any of the kids that want to participate put on a “Talent Show”. It is a full Broadway-style production. Stage, lighting, props, sound, hair/makeup/costumes, music, rehearsals, all by professionals from their fields, all volunteers…she said the production value was like watching America’s Got Talent. Most of the kids are just kids, but some have real talent. But, the entire audience went wild for every performer.
They have CONSTANT organized, supervised, safe activities, all day, all night. They celebrate the kids’ lost parent as an American Hero and tell them the experience is just a small token of the gratitude of their country for their parent. They make the kids feel incredibly special and unique, in a good way.
My girlfriend’s granddaughter is now 10. She was 2 when her Daddy died and has no memory of him. Rather than there being a blank where her father should be, she has this idea of some magical, heroic figure who isn’t with her, but is still providing her with memories and joy. And that folks is the true miracle of this event and organization. For that alone Gary Sinise deserves Person of the Century.
Wow. Just WOW!
WOW, WOW, and just WOW some more. Great article AW1Ed and yes, it got very dusty in there.
And Miss Denise, Thank You for your add on, though you did add a heaping measure of ragweed and pollen to that dust. To you and all the other Gold Star Parents, you have our humblest thanks for your sacrifice.
To “Lt. Dan” and all of the volunteers; you all are just a Class Act. Thank you!
Great to hear Denise. Sounds like an absolutely amazing event for those kids.
Any idea where people can volunteer for these types of things? These kids (and you moms, wives, and other family) that their grateful nation remains forever grateful.
Go to either Snowball Express or the Gary Sinise websites. Or, join in with the Patriot Guard Riders or other local veterans organizations and be at one of the airports to send the kids off or welcome them home.
I just found out The volunteers actually pay their own way. Many literally make this annual event their vacation. There are amazing people in this world.
Denise, you’re thanking me? I am humbled, but very glad my post was sufficient to get your attention and amazing write-up. That human touch you provided took us all there as both front row observers, and equally importantly into some of the behind-the-scenes of what it takes to make such a production possible. And why it is so incredibly important.
No, thank you Denise. You’ve given us all quite a gift this Christmas season. Not to mention make a bunch of burly Alfa Male veterans cry like little girls.
*grin*
I have absolutely nothing to add here.
It has all been said quite well, with gratitude.
I would like to see this image;600 spirits, visiting from Valhall as a group, following their loved ones and sharing their laughter.
Not for glory, not for riches, but to serve their fellow human beings.
Gary, you are a hero in every sense of the word.
Thank you, Lieutenant Dan. For some of us who haven’t been doing so well, it’s good to know you are out there.
Lieutenant Dan, you are the man!
For a number of years, Gary Sinise and his “Lieutenant Dan Band” was at the EAA Air Show Convention when he was sponsored by the DAV.
I had volunteered at the DAV van and then would go to the concert in The Theater In The Woods after.
Awesome time was had sitting in lawn chairs in the warm summer night, having a beverage and listening to the music. Sinise played bass guitar and his band had a wide range of songs. They would go from “Boggy Woggy Boy From Company C” to a “Jimmie Hendrix” song without skipping a beat. A number of the band members were vets, including one from RVN.
Sinise always brought a number of vets on stage and recognized them for their service.
Thanks for the story about him AW1Ed, and thank you Denise.