On Friday, April 17th the Lt. Dan Band played to a sold out crowd at Joe’s Bar in Chicago.  Each year this particular concert is a fundraiser for the United States Vietnam Arts Program which has expanded its mission to include providing “artistic tools” to wounded service members from Iraq and Afghanistan wars (read more about USVAP here).

During the concert, “artistic tools” were presented to Shane Parsons and Laura Narvaez.   Shane suffered a head injury and above knee amputation to both legs while serving in Iraq.  Laura suffers from traumatic brain injuries as a result of incidents while serving in Iraq and Korea; she cannot read or do math and has short term memory loss.  To help them heal in ways not visible to many of us,  the USVAP presented Shane with a guitar to pursue his childhood dream of playing one and his love of music;  Laura was presented with a camera to pursue her love of photography.

And while Shane and Laura were the true VIPs of the evening, part of the USVAP fundraising efforts included VIP All-Access passes and a VIP Meet and Greet event with Gary held after the show.  The VIP All-Access donors were invited to attend the afternoon sound-check, enjoy dinner with the band, a private introduction and photographs with Gary and Kimo as well as a copy of the American Soldier DVD narrated by Gary (this is the video montage which kicked off the show and is available via the USVAP website), Lt. Dan Band merchandise and Kimo’s War Stories CD.

The first two photographs below are from the sound check earlier in the day.  They are graciously provided by Glenda C.  and with many thanks from me personally because I arrived much too late in the day (Cubs game!) to take any photos worth sharing.  (Maybe next year!)  Click on the photos to enlarge.
Gary:                                                 Kimo, Ernie, Beth and Gary:

And many thanks to Alice E.  for sharing her photographs of Gary from the show!

Thanks to Kimo, Gary and the band for a terrific evening and fantastic show! Our best wishes and much gratitude to Shane and Laura!  And many thanks to Glenda and Alice for sharing their photographs!

WASHINGTON/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — On Memorial Day weekend, PBS will unite our nation with an evening that has become an American tradition. The multi award-winning National Memorial Day Concert honors 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.  The 2009 event commemorates 20 years on air as the nation’s memorial service, offering viewers a time to remember, to heal and bring our country together.  The program is co-hosted for the fourth year by Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise (CSI: New York) and Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds), two acclaimed actors who have dedicated themselves to veteran’s causes and supporting our troops in active service. The top-rated show will be broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on PBS Sunday, May 24 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 Radio and Television Network.

Video montage of Brothers at War premiere week (nice chat with Gary):

Also,  Brothers at War  will open in eight new cities on Friday, March 27, including:

Oceanside, CA (near Camp Pendleton) at the Regal Oceanside 16
Savannah, GA (near Fort Stewart) at the Carmike Wynnsong 11
Decatur, IL (Hometown of the Rademacher Family) at the Carmike Hickory Pointe 12
Cleveland Heights, OH at the Cedar Lee Theatre
Dayton, OH (near the Wright Patterson Air Force Base) at the Regal Hollywood 20 Fairfield Commons
Lakewood, WA. (near Fort Lewis) at the AMC Lakewood Mall 12
San Antonio, TX (near Fort Sam Houston) at the Bijou at the Crossroads
Killeen, TX (near Fort Hood) at the Hollywood Stadium 14

Video of Gary’s Interview (last week) with Andrea Mitchell:

Sinise on ‘Brothers at War’

Audio: Gary’s Interview on March 26th with Michael Savage on “The Savage Nation:”

If you missed any of Gary’s television appearances this week promoting “Brothers at War,” below are available video clips (or links to the program’s website):  

Monday, March 16th on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon:

Tuesday, March 17th on MSNBC’s The Morning Joe:

Tuesday, March 17th on The View:

Or go to The View - video   Click”Celebrity Interviews.”  Click “2009.”   In the center of the page, use the horizontal scroll bar to find 03/17 interviews.  Click the thumbnail (little box) under Gary’s name and the video will begin in the larger box above the horizontal scroll bar.

Wednesday, March 18th on CBS Morning Show:

Watch CBS Videos Online

In conjuction with the (limited) release of “Brothers at War,” Gary has given a number of interviews and made a few appearances this past week.  In an effort to not be repetitive,  two of the more comprehensive interviews with Gary are listed (and linked) below.

This coming week, watch for Gary on the following programs:

Monday, March 16th: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, NBC
Tuesday, March 17th: The View, ABC
Wednesday, March 18th: The Early Show, CBS

The Detroit Free Press, “Gary Sinise stands up for U.S. troops: Actor produces war documentary.”

The Chicago Tribune, “Gary Sinise speaks out in defense of military with ‘Brothers at War.’”

At Chicago’s National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, Gary Sinise stands in front of a sculpture comprising 58,000 dog tags, symbolizing U.S. losses in Vietnam. Sinise is executive producer of the documentary “Brothers at War.” (Tribune photo by E. Jason Wambsgans / February 28, 2009)

See here for “Brothers at War” updates.

Coming soon: Articles, photos and video from Columbus and Fayetteville debuts of “Brothers at War.”

1997 graduate Jake Rademacher releases the award-winning documentary film ‘Brothers At War’ in six U.S. cities on March 13, 2009

CHICAGO, March 9 /PRNewswire/ — University of Notre Dame alumnus Jake Rademacher (’97) will open his first feature-length film, “Brothers At War,” on March 13, 2009, in six select U.S. cities including Chicago, Ill.

Rademacher spent three and a half years filming “Brothers At War,” which included embedding himself in four different combat units through two separate trips to Iraq. The film examines the lives of his brothers, Capt. Isaac Rademacher and Cpl. Joseph Rademacher, serving in the war-torn Middle East and how their relationships with their family and loved ones change upon their return.

“Our opening in Chicago is very meaningful to many members of our team,” said Rademacher. “Both myself and Executive Producer Gary Sinise have roots here. Gary was born and raised here, and he co-founded the famous Steppenwolf Theater Company. Chicago is the place where I began my career as an actor before moving to L.A.”

The University of Notre Dame community has played a large role in helping Rademacher achieve his goal of distributing the film on a national level. In June 2007, while visiting his alma mater for his ten-year reunion, Rademacher presented an early cut of his film as part of the reunion activities.

Also attending the reunion was David Scantling, chief executive of the private equity firm, Scantling Technology Ventures (STV), and a 1991 graduate of Notre Dame. Scantling had just returned from working with the Department of Defense on economic development projects in Iraq. Scantling and his wife, Molly, a 1987 Notre Dame graduate, attended the screening and were greatly moved by the film and its message.

“After watching just the first thirty minutes of the film, I turned to wife Molly and said, ‘This is what it’s like in Iraq,’” said Scantling. “The film resonated with me and I knew it was important for war fighters, veterans and the American public to see this film. It conveys the Catholic values of service, family and sacrifice that we learned at Notre Dame and it embodies the slogan engraved over the entrance to the Basilica on campus: ‘God, Country, Notre Dame.’”

Following the presentation at the 2007 reunion, Scantling reached out to Rademacher to inquire about the film’s progress. After being invited to attending a screening of “Brothers At War” in Hollywood hosted by Gary Sinise, Jon Voight and Rademacher’s production company, Metanoia Films, Scantling was inspired to join the film’s production team. Scantling joined Gary Sinise, recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal for his support of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, as an executive producer. Both Sinise and Scantling were instrumental in helping the film launch nationally.

Producers of the film are Director Rademacher and legendary television producer and three-time Emmy nominee, Norman S. Powell (”24,” “The Unit,” “American Valor” and “Gunsmoke”).

The film has received praise from many active duty service members, veterans and military family members, including Chrissy Hicks, a former U.S. Army Cpt. and a 1997 graduate of Notre Dame. “I realize that you have risked your own life in order to get the truth out to the American Public… thank you. The film was incredible,” said Hicks.

“Brothers At War” was crowned Best Feature Documentary at the G.I. Film Festival in Washington, D.C. and was awarded the Grand Jury Prize and Best Documentary title at the Solstice Film Festival in Minneapolis. The film also features a score by six-time Emmy winner Lee Holdridge and the song “Brothers in Arms,” by John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting.

“‘Brothers At War’ has been the most terrifying, soul searching and gratifying thing I have ever done. I am deeply thankful for the support the film has received from the Notre Dame family,” said Rademacher.

Ramsay Warton of KBMG9 interviewed Gary (back in January) when he and the Lt. Dan Band were in Hawaii to entertain the troops.  Ramsay chatted with Gary while the group rehearsed for the January 31, 2009 concert at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.  The Lt. Dan Band also played Hickam Air Force Base the next night.

There are 2 video segments with Gary and another with co-founder of the Lt. Dan Band, Kimo Williams. Williams lived in Hawaii throughout his teens and first dabbled with the guitar while attending Leilehau High School.

Click here for the interviews.

Thanks to Victoria for the tip.

The DVD of “On the Road in Iraq with our Troops and Gary Sinise”  will be released Friday, February 6th.   Order from Amazon here for $19.95.

Fox News Special: On the Road With Our Troops and Gary Sinise is available here.

Also, Gary’s January 22 appearance on the Glenn Beck show is here (probably for a limited time), with the transcript here.

Thanks to Deb for finding these links!

Gary shares a few thoughts about his experiences visiting Iraq and supporting the troops in the Fox News Blog.   Click here.

“On the Road in Iraq With Our Troops and Gary Sinise”

Gary’s video diary coming soon to DVD