This contribution comes from Marine wife, Kara L. who has kindly permitted us to republish her recent blog post about the Lt. Dan Band’s performance on Saturday, April 24th at Fort Leonard Wood.  The evolution of the band will be familiar to long-time fans, but please enjoy reading about Kara’s experience at the show and, of course, her photographs which tell a story of their own.  

August 25th, 2010: In 1997 Gary Sinise and Kimo Williams first met and realized their mutual love of music. This led to numerous jam sessions and the foundation for the Lt. Dan Band. Following one of his many trips overseas to visit those serving our country, Gary asked the USO if they would allow him to take a band with him on a tour. The USO agreed, the band began rehearsing and in February of 2004, The Lieutenant Dan Band hit the road on their first overseas USO tour to Korea, Singapore and Diego Garcia. Since those early sessions at Kimo’s house, a few gigs for the troops in the Chicago area in 2003, and that first overseas tour, in the past six years Gary and the band have played an average of 30-40 shows per year with a good 75% of those shows for USO, charities or benefits. There are 14 band members. The band covers a wide variety of music, from Springsteen to Linkin Park and Aretha to Hendrix. There’s something for everyone, and each show highlights the musical diversity of the band, as well as the passion and energy each member brings to the stage.

A friend and I went to the show last night. It was awesome! The show was supposed to start at 6:30 at an outside location. It had rained on and of all day and 2 hours prior to the show, the hail, thunder, and lightning started. The stage was already set up, but the basic equipment was moved to an indoor location so the show could go on. It started 2 hours late, but it was worth it! It says something when they’ll take the time to move the concert location instead of just canceling it. We got their shortly after the show started. The place was full, with mostly Army basic training privates in the stands. The band played a wide variety of music and did a great job of it. I would have paid to see the show (it was free). He stuck around aferwards for a meet and greet. Poor guy looked tired (it was midnight), but he met every single person in line.

It was rare, in my opinion, to see a celebrity so openly support the military. I realize a lot of them do USO tours overseas, but some are more in it for the publicity, while others do it purely to support our guys. Gary Sinise must already be busy considering he has hit TV show, but to also play 30-40 shows a year, just really shows how dedicated he is to what he does.

Thank you again Kara!

While in Kansas City for the Operation International Children  fundraiser this evening, Gary stopped by the OIC warehouse to help out and thank volunteers from all across the country for their hardwork.  Glenda Cain,  representing Illinois Operation Homefront, was on hand, and she shares this photo from earlier today:

Many thanks to Glenda for photo and to all the OIC volunteers for their hard work!

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WASHINGTON, April 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — For more than 20 years, PBS has been proud to honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for our country with the annual broadcast of the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT.  The multi award-winning event, broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, will be co-hosted for the fifth year by Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise and Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna, two acclaimed actors who have dedicated themselves to veteran’s causes and supporting our troops in active service.  The 21st annual broadcast of THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT will air live in HD on PBS Sunday, May 30 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network.

Joining co-hosts Sinse and Mantegna will be an all-star line-up of dignitaries, actors and musical artists that to date includes: distinguished American leader Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.); Oscar, Golden Globe and multiple Grammy award-winning music legend and humanitarian Lionel Richie whose distinguished career includes over 100 million records sold; Grammy, CMA and ACM Award-winning country music artist Brad Paisley; acclaimed actor Dennis Haysbert; classical crossover artist Katherine Jenkins; three time Tony-nominated Broadway star Kelli O’Hara and Grammy-winning gospel/adult contemporary superstar Yolanda Adams in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra (additional talent to be announced).

Gary is a scheduled panelist for an USO forum at Texas A &M which will be hosted by George Bush, 41st president of the United States, and Mrs. Barbara Bush.  The event is scheduled for Monday, April 26 at 4 p.m. in the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at the George Bush Presidential Library Center at Texas A&M University.  The event celebtates the USO and its role in lifting the spirits of America’s men and women in uniform and their families. 

The event will include remarks from the panelists about the ongoing mission of the USO and an audience question-and-answer session. The forum will be followed by a reception and screening of the award-winning film “The Lt. Dan Band: For the Common Good,” which will be hosted by Jonathan Flora, the film’s director.

Other than Gary, event panelists include Mayra Veronica, singer and model; Major General Jeffery W. Hammond, U.S. Army, chief of staff of U.S. Forces Command; and Sloan Gibson, the 22nd president and CEO of the USO (United Service Organizations).

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