NASHVILLE, Nov. 2 /Christian Newswire/ — Operation Troop Aid (OTA), a nonprofit organization which supports deployed U.S. soldiers, recently honored Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning actor Gary Sinise with the 2009 Operation Troop Aid “Patriot Award.”

Photo: OTA founder and executive director Mark Woods, Gary Sinise and Wanda Woods (Trophy Courtesy of Custom Trophy & Apparel-Florence KY)

Founded in 2005 by 21-year military veteran, Mark Woods, Operation Troop Aid provides care packages for deployed U.S. Service Members with revenue generated through professional concert promotions and public financial generosity. OTA is a nonprofit corporation striving to make a positive difference and inspire the Armed Forces by letting them know Americans stand with them. For more information on OTA, visit www.OperationTroopAid.org or call 901-355-8844.

This evening in Los Angeles, Gary, and those who inspire him, took part in the First West Coast Advanced Tribute Screening of Jonathan Flora’s documentary feature, Lt. Dan Band: For The Common Good.

The Lt. Dan Band: For The Common Good is a moving documentary feature film that celebrates America’s heroes and chronicles the journey of Academy Award nominated actor, Gary Sinise.  By following Gary and his band around the world for over a year and a half, including Iraq and Kuwait, Flora introduces the audience to many of the heroic first responders, the brave men and women in uniform, their families and the many wonderful citizens that support them.
 
The documentary has an amazing soundtrack and special appearances by numerous celebrities, including John Ratzenberger, Melina Kanakaredes, Mykelti Williamson, Connie Stevens, and Academy Award Winners, Jon Voight and Robert Duvall.  Produced and directed by Hollywood filmmaker and 82nd Airborne Veteran Jonathan Flora, this film is that rare movie that entertains even as it inspires.

The first Advance Tribute Screening was held last month in NY on board the USS Intrepid during the weekend of 9/11 for over 1100 first responders, military personnel, and their families.  

Information as to when and where the documentary will be released to the public will be posted when  available.  

Special thanks to J. Treese for sharing this news.

The August issue of American Way magazine features an excellent article about Gary.  The entire piece is available on-line here.

Thanks to Jerry C. for the tip!

This past weekend Gary and the Lt. Dan Band participated in West Point’s celebration of the U.S. Army’s Year of the NCO (noncommissioned officers) by performing a free public concert at Eisenhower Hall Theatre, West Point, New York.   This was a very special weekend for Gary and his family as they have a strong personal connection to West Point.

Gary’s brother-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Boyd McCanna (”Mac”) Harris not only graduated from West Point, but, after 2 tours of duty in Vietnam, was an instructor of Military Leadership at the Point.  In the 1980s, Lt. Col. Harris wrote the Army’s “Leadership Manual,” and much of it is still used today.   After Lt. Col. Harris passed away from cancer at the age of 40, an award was named in his honor.  Every year, West Point gives out a leadership award to the outstanding cadet in the name of Lt Col. Harris.  This was the first time in many years that Gary and his family attended the award ceremony.

A few photos from ceremony and Lt. Dan Band show are below:  

Click on photos to enlarge.   

On Friday July 17th, Gary and the Lt. Dan Band performed a free public concert at Naval Station Great Lakes. Operation Homefront volunteer and faithful fan, Glenda C. was in attendance, and she has again graciously provided a few terrific photographs of Gary and the band.

For a list of upcoming Lt. Dan Band public concerts, click here.

Thank you Glenda!

Thanks to youtuber SJulianYZ125 quality video of the Lt. Dan Band show at Kunsan on June 24th is available.  A few selections are embedded below inlcuding a performance of “Baba O’Riley.”

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On June 10th Gary joined the Operation Gratitude volunteers at the National Guard Armory in Van Nuys to assemble care packages and send greetings of love and respect to U.S. service members deployed overseas.

Operation Gratitude is the California-based 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer organization that annually sends 100,000+ care packages of snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions such as Iraq and Afghanistan and on Naval ships at sea.   Its mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member’s face and to express the appreciation and support of the American people.  Since its inception in March 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 450,000 packages to American military deployed overseas.

Below are a few photographs of Gary with volunteers and service members taken during his visit (click on photos to enlarge).

To see all the photographs of Gary’s visit and to learn more about the efforts of Operation Gratitude, please visit their website: click here,

Gary has generously agreed to participate and appear on “Troop-a-thon,” Move America Forward’s campaign to send the largest ever shipment of care packages to U.S. troops serving overseas.

On June 25th, MAF will host its 2nd annual “Troop-a-thon” titled “Honor Their Service.” During the 8-hour event that will be broadcast on the internet, radio and TV viewers are encouraged to sponsor care packages for the troops as the guests and hosts discuss various topics related to supporting our troops. Last year, viewers donated more than $1.5 million to send care packages to troops.

Additional information about the event, including other guests, and eventually, the program schedule is available at Troop-a-thon 2009.

As some of you may have already known, Gary attended a USO function hosted by Hollywood Reporter and Editor Elizabeth Guider in Beverly Hills last month. Video of Gary speaking at this event recently became available and is embedded below:

Some terrific still photographs of Gary at this event are available at CSI:Fanatic click here.

And while we are on the topic of Gary’s commitment to the USO, he and the Lt. Dan Band will soon be off on their USO Summer Tour (June 21st through July 5th) to perform for troops in Korea and Okinawa. We wish the band a safe journey and hope the men and woman in uniform have a fantastic time at the shows!

Since the USVAP fundraiser at Joe’s in April, Gary has been busy as usual.  A few loyal Gary fans and friends have graciously shared their photographs from various events, and despite our lag time getting the photos uploaded to the News page, we hope you enjoy them just the same:

With thanks to Glenda Cain, photographs taken of the Lt. Dan Band performance at the Steppenwolf Theatre Gala on April 19, 2009:

From Liz Wegman we have photographs of Gary and M*A*S*H’s Jamie Farr taken in May at the OIC warehouse. Thank you, Liz!

And saving the best for last ~ fantastic photographs from Virginia Hagin taken at the Lt. Dan Band show at Ft. Riley in May:

Thanks again to Glenda, Liz and Virginia for sharing their photographs!