• The Fort Leavenworth Lamp has an article about Gary’s recent visit and his work with Operation Iraqi Children.
• The USO reports that Gary will be in Hawaii this weekend with the LDB.
• Our co-obsessives friends over at the livejournal community sinise_daily have scans of the recent interview Gary did for Guideposts magazine.  (If you have a livejournal, this is a terrific community to watch or join!)

The Lt. Dan Band currently has the following dates scheduled:

• Saturday, March 10: 4th Annual Steppenwolf Celebrity Golf Classic (Indian Wells, CA)
• Friday & Saturday, March 30-31: Fallsview Casino Resort (Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada)
• Saturday, April 28: House of Blues (Cleveland, OH)
• Thursday, May 3: Joe’s Bar (Chicago, IL) - Benefit for United States Vietnam Arts Program
• Saturday, May 5: Steppenwolf Theatre Gala (Chicago, IL)
• Saturday, July 21: Cantigny Park (Wheaton, IL) - details TBA

They are also planning a European USO tour for this summer.

Get out and see the LDB — you won’t be disappointed!

CBN News reporter Melissa Charbonneau recently sat down with Gary to talk about a variety of important issues. This is one of the lengthier pieces with Gary in quiet some time. The are 7 videos clips of the interview on line, so sit back and click around a bit: Gary’s CBN News Interview.

CBN News also did a nice feature about Gary and his work for disabled veterans. Here is a link to the article and video (different from the interview above): Star Power Behind Honoring Disabled Vets.

Gary talked with Andrea Roane of WUSA Channel 9 earlier today about Fisher House and the Lt. Dan Band concert Saturday at the Washington Auto Show to raise funds for that organization. He also talked briefly about OIC. Video of that interview is on-line here.

Photo from www.wusa9.com

Note: Not sure how long the video will be available so check it out soon.

From C-Span.org: Actor Gary Sinise discusses the building of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. The actor, who played a disabled soldier in “Forrest Gump,” is the National Spokesman for the project. During his National Press Club appearance, Mr. Sinise describes the campaign to raise $65 million for the memorial. Click here to view C-Span coverage of Gary’s National Press Club appearance.

Also, read today’s America Supports You article with comments from Gary as spokesperson for the Disabled Veterans Life Memorial Foundation here.

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Sorry for the very late notice — it wasn’t listed when I checked yesterday — but C-SPAN’s listings now show Gary’s appearance at the National Press Club at 1:00 pm eastern today. Yes, that’s about 10 minutes from now. Again, sorry! It really wasn’t there yesterday. (These listings have not been pushed to Tribune and other guide services, as far as I can tell — TiVo listings showing “US Senate” for that time.)

The good news is that CSPAN seems to have an extensive video library on their site, so hopefully this will turn up there, or on the Press Club’s site. We’ll let you know if we find it. Again, sorry for the late notice.

Gary’s upcoming National Press Club luncheon will apparently be used for announcing a $65 million initiative for a disabled veterans’ memorial. More here at the Marine Corps Times.

Also, there’s a quick mention here about Gary’s appearance at a special prom for teens suffering/recovering from kidney disease.

Gary is scheduled to appear on CNN’s Larry King Live tomorrow night (Saturday, January 13) to talk about the Fisher House charity.  Fisher House provides cost-effective housing near military and VA medical centers, allowing family members to be near wounded or ill military personnel or veterans while they are hospitalized.

The Lt. Dan Band is scheduled to perform a benefit for Fisher House on January 27 at the Washington Convention Center.  Details here.

Larry King airs at 9 pm EST/6pm PST, and is repeated several times Saturday night and early Sunday morning.   Check here or in your local listings for times.

(Thanks to Bob for the tip!)

Greetings and happy 2007! We hope you all had a great holiday season. Now that the last carol has been sung, the final champagne cork popped, etc., we’ve got some news to catch you up on.

• A New Year’s message from Gary, as well as new concert dates, have been posted on the Lt. Dan Band web site.
  
• You might remember that Gary and the LDB performed for Operation Support Our Troops Illinois back in July. A chunk of the funds raised at that event have gone to help provide internet access to wounded veterans at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Maywood, Ill. (If any of you are visiting — a very special hello!)
  
• Kim Basinger and Gary are officially the new ambassadors for Swiss watchmaker Baume & Mercier. They participated in a photo session with celebrity photographers Jeff Lipsky and Black Little. The proceeds from the rights to the images have been donated to charitable organizations - environmental protection and the education of underprivileged children, two causes supported by Baume & Mercier’s charitable campaign. You can see one of the photos of Gary here.
  
• Open Season will be released on DVD on January 30.
  
• Gary was mentioned in an article about celebrity philanthropy in the Ottawa Sun.
  
• In an article about the CSI franchise from the Independent (UK) (via tvgrapevine.com) Gary’s character is referred to as “the most modern and complex and the least archetypal of the trio, his greyness suiting the post-September 11 Manhattan location.” And the National Post (Canada) has a Q&A with CSI creator Anthony Zuiker.
  
• Finally, OMG, are people really still asking this question? (At least they are asking someone who isn’t me.) Did this guy miss the first hour of Forrest Gump? Really, I want to know.

On Friday, November 10th Gary and his Lt. Dan Band performed a benefit concert for Operation Iraqi Children at the Uptown Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri.

And we have to love You Tube. Here’s a snippet of Gary with his heartfelt words to the U.S. troops on stage that night:

If anyone was at the show, feel free to share with us what a great time you had!

Gary was emcee for the Veteran’s Day Observance Program at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, November 11th.

President Bush spoke of the men and women in the armed forces for their bravery and fortitude, calling them “America’s finest citizens.” Bush earlier laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, a memorial gravesite commemorating all unknown American soldiers who died under the call of duty. Also in attendance was veteran and former Sen. Bob Dole, whose right arm was left paralyzed by gunfire during World War II.

President Bush and Gary Sinise at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, November 11th.

(AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

Monday, November 13 is Military Appreciation Monday. Gary will be featured in a public service announcement recognizing the contributions of both active duty and retired military forces.

Very positive coverage from The Daily Times (Ottawa, IL) here and here.

We received an email from Shayla, who reports the band was “awesome” and the crowd was great.

Also, demonstrating his continued committment to veterans’ issues, Gary is scheduled to appear this weekend at the Disabled American Veterans‘ convention this weekend in Chicago.

The National Memorial Day Parade will commence Monday, May 29th to pay tribute to American veterans from the American Revolution to Operation Iraqi Freedom and to honor active duty military personnel and all those who have died defending the United States. Notable veterans from WWI through Desert Storm will serve as grand marshals alongside grand marshal Gary Sinise, the Emmy award- winning actor and film director who is often noted for his efforts in raising awareness about the sacrifices made by members of the military and paying homage to their work.

The National Memorial Day Parade is an annual event in Washington, D.C. and this year steps off at noon on Third St., N.W. and will proceed to Constitution Ave., ending at 15th St., N.W. at approximately 2 p.m.

The event is open to the public and all are welcome to attend to show their gratitude, respect and support for the 2.6 million active duty and reservist military personnel stationed around the world and to remember those we have lost.

For more information regarding the parade and parade route Click here

For a limited run Lt. Dan Band t-shirts and caps are available for purchase!All receipts from the sale of these t-shirts and caps benefit the United States Vietnam Arts Program (USVAP), a charitable organization that uses music to create collaborative programs between the US and Vietnam. (see USVAP)

Go here to see the t-shirts and caps and to make purchases or visit Lt. Dan Band website.

T-shirts are offered for $25.00 in white and ash with “Lt. Dan Band” on front; “Rockin’ The World” on back with a list of Lt. Dan Band 2004 and 2005 world tour stops.

Baseball caps are priced at $10.00 and are available in Khaki, Navy Blue, Black, Evergreen. Film transfer image of Lt Dan Band logo on front. Velcro connection in back.

Update: Kimo is working out some glitches with the site (to order), so please be patient. There is also a problem with the email list for the USVAP (for Kimo, Gary and LDB updates) so again, hang in there if you signed up for that list.

Band News: Lt Dan band is performing January 28th in Arizona. Check the band’s website in coming weeks for confirmation, further details and 2006 concert dates.