1 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: On this episode of News World. Gary Senesa's stage, film 2 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: and television career has spanned more than four decades. At 3 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: the age of eighteen, he co founded Chicago Steppenwof Theater Company, 4 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: and as Lieutenant Dan Taylor and Forrest Gump, he received 5 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: nominations for Golden Grobe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Awards, 6 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: and earned the Best Supporting Actor Award from the National 7 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: Board of Review and the Commander's Award from the Disabled 8 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: American Veterans. His other film credits include Apaula thirteen, Ransom, 9 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: Snake Eyes, Impostor, The Greenwild, Mission to Mars, and The 10 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: Human State. His most recent film and television work include 11 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: I Still Believe Good, Joe Bell in the Netflix series 12 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: Thirteen Reasons Why. He starred as Jack Garrett on the 13 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: series Criminal Minds Beyond Boarders, and for nine seasons as 14 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: Detective Mac Taylor on the hit series CSI New York, 15 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: both of which aired on CBS. He is an Emmy, 16 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 1: Golden Globe and two time SAG Award winner for his 17 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,479 Speaker 1: roles in Truman and George Wallace. For nearly forty years, 18 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,320 Speaker 1: Gary has been an advocate on behalf of America's service members, 19 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: beginning in the early nineteen eighties supporting local Vietnam Veterans 20 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: groups in the Chicago area, and into the nineteen nineties, 21 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: when his portrayal of Lieutenant Dan formed an enduring connection 22 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: with service members throughout the military community, and as he 23 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: worked on behalf of the Disabled American Veterans Organization, which 24 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: he continues to actively support today. Following the attacks of 25 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: September eleventh, two thousand and one. Senesa's dedication to our 26 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: nation's active duty defenders, veterans, first responders in their families 27 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: has become his personal crusade of support, service, and gratitude 28 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: for all those who protect our freedom and serve our country. 29 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: And I just felt that with Veterans Day, I couldn't 30 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: imagine anyone more appropriate. And so I'm very pleased to 31 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: welcome my guest and somebody I admire deeply, Gary Sonese. 32 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining me again. You know, we last 33 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: talked in November twenty nineteen, and you shared a lot 34 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: about your acting career. But I wanted to have you 35 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: back because here at Garistry sixty, we've named the Gary 36 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: Sonese Foundation our charity of the month for November and 37 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: I wanted you to talk about the foundation, why you 38 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,239 Speaker 1: founded it, and what are some of the current projects 39 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,399 Speaker 1: you're supporting. First of all, thanks for having me. It's 40 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: wonderful to be with you again, sir, and thank you 41 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: for making the Gary Sonese Foundation your charity of the month. 42 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: I couldn't be more grateful for you to do that, 43 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: and trying to draw some attention to what we're doing 44 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: at the Gary Sonese Foundation night. I have so many 45 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: different initiatives and programs going at the Foundation, covering a 46 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: lot of territory within the military, veteran and first responder 47 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: space that we can always use more support. It's an 48 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: expanding and growing foundation with many, many programs and something 49 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 1: that I'm very, very committed to. I think probably among 50 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: the if not the most rewarding thing I've ever been 51 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: able to do. But I've been blessed to have a 52 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: great career, blessed to have success in the movie and 53 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 1: television business, and blessed that I could kind of channel 54 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: that success into doing some good for our military service 55 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: members and their families. That's what the Foundation is about, 56 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: serving and honoring the needs of the men and women 57 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: who serve our country. Many veterans in my own family. 58 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: That's where it begins with me. And then, as you said, 59 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: I got involved back in the eighties and nineties with 60 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: supporting veterans in various ways. But it was really the 61 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: turning point of September eleventh, two thousand and one that 62 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,839 Speaker 1: thrust me into a level of service that I never 63 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: suspected really and never really thought that the lieutenant and 64 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: character in Forrest Gump would play a greater role in 65 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,679 Speaker 1: my life with regards to serving and honoring the needs 66 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,919 Speaker 1: of our service members than just being a part in 67 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: a movie. So many things have happened along the way. 68 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: I've met extraordinary people, and thankfully the American people. After 69 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: ten years of forging ahead with the Garysoneese Foundation, we 70 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: have their trust as a reliable resource for their generosity 71 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 1: to help us do more. You've really been developing the program, 72 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: and we were looking at some of the things you 73 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: guys have accomplished. Seventy four especially adapted smart homes completed 74 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: for severely wounded heroes, one hundred and two thousand attendees 75 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: at the Invincible Spirit Festival since twenty twelve five and 76 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 1: fifty four thousand meals served our Nations defenders across the country. 77 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: Eleven hundred and twenty one veterans and guardians have participated 78 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: in the Soaring Valor experiences. Three and twenty five emergency 79 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 1: relief grants were awarded to police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. 80 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 1: Eleven thousand pieces of equipment have been donated by the 81 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 1: Gary Sondeys Foundation. Thirty five adapted vehicles provided to improve 82 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: everyday life. You've donated your time playing five hundred and 83 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: thirty support concerts, and I need two hundred and ninety 84 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,359 Speaker 1: five Children of fallen military heroes and their surviving parent 85 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 1: or guardian have joined you in the Snowball Express since 86 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen. I mean this has really become a very 87 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:45,799 Speaker 1: major component of your life, yes, sir. Besides my family 88 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 1: and taking care of my family and looking out for 89 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: them and the grandchildren and all of that, this is 90 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: a priority for me and something that I'm focused on. 91 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: I have a great team of people that we've been 92 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: able to hire to expand the mission. I was doing 93 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 1: this for several years, you know, supporting the military and 94 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: going on USO tours and visiting the hospitals and traveling 95 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 1: and supporting many many different military charities out there, and 96 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: it just became clear at a certain point that this 97 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: was something that was going to be a part of 98 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: my life for many, many years to come, and so 99 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 1: I knew the next step was going to be to 100 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: create my own military veteran first responder support nonprofit. I 101 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: just believe that our country owes a great debt to 102 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: the men and women who keep us safe and free. 103 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: They don't ask for much, they don't get much. They're volunteers. 104 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 1: And if they're going to volunteer to go into dark 105 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: and dangerous places to protect and defend freedom for me 106 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,799 Speaker 1: and my family, I feel, as a public figure, there's 107 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: something that I can do to help. And it was 108 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: really again the turning point of September eleventh. I wrote 109 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: a book, Grateful American. I think that that might have 110 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,599 Speaker 1: been when we were talking last and my book is 111 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: called Grateful American and Journey from Self to Service, And 112 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,559 Speaker 1: there is a chapter in my book called turning Point, 113 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: which is the moment that I turned full on and 114 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: full force into service work and this mission of helping 115 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: our veterans. It was September eleventh that did that life changed. 116 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: After that, I had been doing a play on Broadway. 117 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: That closed about six weeks before the attacks of September eleventh, 118 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: and that was the last play I did. That was 119 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: twenty years ago, because life just changed. I continued in 120 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: the movie and television business, but everything else was devoted 121 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: to traveling for the troops. And you know, when you 122 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: sit down and do a play there for six eight months, 123 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: you can't leave, you can't go. And life just turned 124 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 1: in a different direction for me. It was certainly a 125 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: turning point towards service. And I'll tell you one quick 126 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: story if I can remember, mister speaker, the Friday after 127 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: September eleventh. September eleventh was a Tuesday, and that Friday, 128 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: President Bush had declared that the Friday would be a 129 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: national day of prayer and remembrance for the victims of 130 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 1: September eleventh. So across the country, churches and houses of 131 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:26,559 Speaker 1: worship and synagogues, everything was packed to the gills. People 132 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: were looking for some way to process this awful thing 133 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,719 Speaker 1: that we had witnessed on television and so many had 134 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 1: witnessed firsthand. And it was a terrible, terrible time. And 135 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:44,319 Speaker 1: I took my family, my kids were young. We were 136 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 1: in our little Catholic church in our town small church, 137 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 1: but it was packed to the gills and by the 138 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 1: time we got there there were no seats. And I 139 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: was standing up on the side, just holding my little 140 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 1: daughter's hand and tears rolling down my and something happened 141 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 1: to me. The priest said something about service being a 142 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: great healer, and I was looking for some way to 143 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: heal a breaking heart. And from that moment I started 144 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: focusing on what can I do for the men and women. 145 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,839 Speaker 1: A short while later, we started deploying to Afghanistan, people 146 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: started getting hurt and having veterans in my family, having 147 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 1: been involved with veterans in the nineties and the eighties, 148 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: it hit me like a light bulb. I'm going to 149 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: go full force and make sure that what happened to 150 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: our Vietnam veterans when they came home for war, the 151 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:47,679 Speaker 1: way the nation turned its back on them and treated them, 152 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 1: and they had to regress into the shadows, dealing with 153 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: their pain by themselves. And I wanted to make sure 154 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: that those deploying to Afghanistan and Iraq would not face 155 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: the same thing when coming home, that they would know 156 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: that they were appreciated. And so I started going to 157 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,199 Speaker 1: them and I got on airplanes, and I went to 158 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: the war zones, and I went to different countries where 159 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: our troops are deployed and started visiting them. And it 160 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: manifested into a full time mission that has continued on 161 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: and on into the founding of the Gary Soneese Foundation. 162 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 1: You know two thousand and three was your first USO 163 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 1: tour in the wreck. What do you remember about that trip? 164 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: Did that impress you, that experience of being with the troops, Oh, 165 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: no question. It was actually June of that year. I 166 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: went to my first USO tour. I volunteered and called 167 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: them up and said, please, I want to do something 168 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 1: for the troops. I want to go to Iraq. I 169 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: want to visit them. And they had set up a 170 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: big tour that a lot of entertainers were on, and 171 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 1: it was in June of two thousand and three. It 172 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: was the first big USO tour. Remember when the statue 173 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: of Saddam Hussein got yanked down in that town square. 174 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: Our soldiers tied a chain around the statute, hooked it 175 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: up to a tank and then pulled the thing down. 176 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: And that was in April of two thousand and three. 177 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:29,960 Speaker 1: And in June of two thousand and three. I was 178 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: in Baghdad just two months after that. I mean, all 179 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: the kinds of entertainers were on that trip. Northwest Airlines 180 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: gave us a seven forty seven and one hundred and 181 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: eighty people got on that airplane and went over to 182 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: Iraq and split up and we went all over the 183 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:48,599 Speaker 1: place visiting troops and it was life changing, it was galvanizing. 184 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,439 Speaker 1: As soon as I got back, I said, where can 185 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: I go now. I didn't have a job at that time, 186 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: so I was like, send me somewhere. And so within 187 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: two weeks of getting back from that trip, I was 188 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 1: in Italy on July fourth, visiting troops in Italy. And 189 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 1: then I came back and I had a movie that 190 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:12,079 Speaker 1: was going to open at the Venice Film Festival at 191 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: the end of August, and I told the USO, I said, 192 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 1: I'm going to be in Venice at a film festival. 193 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 1: I want to go somewhere else when I'm done with 194 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: that film festival. So they sentimented Germany and I went 195 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: to Germany. So within three months, I've done three tours. 196 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: And then I came back and I went to Fort 197 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: Stewart for the first time. I went to Walter Reed 198 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: I was in the hospitals, I was all over the place, 199 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: and by November I was back in Iraq again for 200 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,679 Speaker 1: my second trip to Iraq. So about six months in 201 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:48,199 Speaker 1: two thousand and three were the galvanizing months that set 202 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: me on this NonStop course of supporting the men and 203 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: women who serve our country. Starting a band, started taking 204 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: my ban out there, started going here, there, and everywhere, 205 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 1: and it all came together eventually into the creation of 206 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: the Garysoneese Foundation in twenty eleven. So as you're doing this, 207 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: what's the point where you decided to form the Lieutenant 208 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 1: Dan Band. Well, I'll tell you that it was funny. 209 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 1: So I did all those trips in two thousand and three, right, 210 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: and they were handshake tours. You get on an airplane, 211 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:20,679 Speaker 1: you go over there, you shake hands with the troops, 212 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 1: you take pictures, you visit with them, sign autographs, just visit. 213 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: I just kept going to visit and to tell them 214 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: I appreciated them. And again with Vietnam veterans in my 215 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:33,959 Speaker 1: family and remembering what it was like for them to 216 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: not get any gratitude and appreciation, I went overboard with 217 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to make sure that they 218 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 1: knew they were appreciated. So I was doing things all 219 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: over the place. And on that very first tour to Iraq, 220 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:52,079 Speaker 1: Kid Rock was on that tour, and Leanne Womack was 221 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: on that tour, and Wayne Newton was on that tour, 222 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,680 Speaker 1: and there were others that were entertainers. I was just 223 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 1: Lieutenant Dan going to say hi and thank you. But 224 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: it was a big entertainment tour. We had performances that 225 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: we did and Kid Rock played and all these entertainers 226 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: entertained and then they'd say Garysonisa is here, and I 227 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 1: got up and said something and then introduced one of 228 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: the entertainers. And on that trip I said to the USO, 229 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: you know, I have a band. I have some people 230 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: that I played with. I'd like to do this too, 231 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: you know. And they didn't take it very seriously because 232 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: I'm an actor and generally actors with bands aren't not 233 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 1: that impressive. But I kept going on these tours and 234 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: doing this handshake thing, and every time I would go 235 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: on a tour that year, I would say, you know, 236 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: I have a band. I'd like to take my band. Well, 237 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: eventually they said okay, they would allow me to take 238 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: my band. And at that time, it was just some 239 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: musicians that I played with for fun every once in 240 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: a while. But I got to call them up and say, 241 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 1: guess what, We're gonna rehearse some songs and we're going 242 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,239 Speaker 1: to go on a tour for the USO. In February 243 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: of two thousand and four, they sent us on our 244 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: first overseas tour to Diego Garcia, which you probably know 245 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: where that is. It's in the middle of nowhere, out 246 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: in the Indian Ocean, so it's about as far as 247 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: you can get away from civilization, and that's where they 248 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: sent my band to play first. But it was great 249 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: because you know, it was our first trip. We played 250 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: two shows, two nights in Diego Garcia. They don't get 251 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: a lot of entertainment down there, and they had B 252 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: one bombers that were flying from Diego Garcia over Afghanistan 253 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: doing these bombing runs, and they sent us out there 254 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: and we entertained them. And then we went to Singapore 255 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 1: after that, and then we went to Korea after that, 256 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: and that was our first tour with the Lieutenant Dan 257 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: band I came back and I said, where can I 258 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 1: go now? I want to go to US bases so 259 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: they put together a bus and truck and we went 260 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: to three or four US bases within three months. And 261 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: you mentioned the number of concerts that I've donated my 262 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: time too. I have to pay all the production costs 263 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: and pay the band members and everything, but I play 264 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: for free, and since those early days, it's five hundred 265 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: thirty some concerts. We just played Friday night at Nellis 266 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: Air Force Base for everybody there. So we continue to 267 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: do it, and I love doing it. I love seeing 268 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: the smiles on the faces of the men and women 269 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: who serve our country. I have to ask, what do 270 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 1: you play? I'm the bass player, all right? Yeah, you 271 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: should go to our website, Gary Sone's Foundation dot org 272 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: and go to our YouTube channel. You'll be able to 273 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: see the band playing. Does this go back to high 274 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: school or when did you pick up the bass? Yes, 275 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: well it goes back to my first guitar in fourth 276 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: grade back in the sixties. I was a big Beach 277 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 1: Boys fan, and I love the Beach Boys. I wanted 278 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: to be like the Beach Boys, and I got a 279 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: guitar and started to learn how to play it. The 280 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: guy who plays the bass early on is usually the 281 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: guy who's least proficient on the six string guitar, so 282 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: they said, we're gonna take two strings away from and 283 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: you're gonna play bass. And so I started playing bass, 284 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: and I loved it. And I played bass in high 285 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: school and bands all the way through high school into 286 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:21,919 Speaker 1: my early twenties. And then I got so busy with 287 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 1: Steppenwolf Theater that you mentioned, which I started when I 288 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:30,160 Speaker 1: was eighteen with my pals, that I just didn't play 289 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: for a while, and then I picked it up again 290 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: in the late nineties just for fun. And then along 291 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: came September eleventh, and I wanted to do something to 292 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: help our troops and what as an actor, do you know? 293 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 1: You call the USO? And then I wanted to entertain 294 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: so I started playing music for him. I have to 295 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 1: tell you two things. One, my grandson, Robert plays the bass, 296 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 1: so I now got to report this into him that 297 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,879 Speaker 1: he does have a future. Well, I played for free. 298 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 1: I don't make a living if by animating, I don't 299 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: know the then second, in terms of picking up an 300 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:08,880 Speaker 1: instrument after a while, Cloister, just after her tour as 301 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 1: the Ambassador, had gotten away from her French horn, and 302 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: she's always played in the Fairfax Community Band. So she's 303 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 1: now taken it back up for the Christmas concert this year, 304 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 1: and she's going through some of that, you know, getting 305 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: to learn her horn again routine fantastic. It's never too 306 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: late exactly. She's doing a fine job of it. But 307 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 1: my job is to be audience. I have no musical 308 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 1: talent of any kind, I said, an applaud Let me 309 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:39,120 Speaker 1: ask you. I mean, this is really remarkable both way 310 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,360 Speaker 1: you've put in but also some of the things you've developed. 311 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: I had the opportunity a couple of years ago to 312 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: go to the National World War Two Museum, which I 313 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: think is a real asset for the country. And you 314 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: have a soaring valor program where your foundation both sends 315 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,639 Speaker 1: World War Two veterans to visit the museum, but also 316 00:18:57,119 --> 00:19:00,879 Speaker 1: records their stories to share with the world. As a historian, 317 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: I think there's a tremendous concept. But how did you 318 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 1: come up with all that? Well, sir, I've had a 319 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: great relationship with the National World War Two Museum. There's 320 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: no World War Two museum like it. It is the 321 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 1: premier tribute to the men and women who served during 322 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 1: that period of time, and the stories that are told 323 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:26,199 Speaker 1: there remarkable. As you know, it's a fantastic museum that 324 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:30,560 Speaker 1: continues to grow. Years ago, back in oh nine, two 325 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: ten around in there, they opened a movie at the 326 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: museum called Beyond All Boundaries and they built a theater 327 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: and it's an incredible experience, forty five minute film telling 328 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 1: the story of World War Two. It's so beautiful. And 329 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 1: Tom Hanks was one of the producers on it. And 330 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: Tom was putting together some actors to do voice work 331 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 1: for the movie, and he called me up and asked 332 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: me if I would do the voice of Ernie Pyle 333 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:11,120 Speaker 1: in Beyond All Boundaries. And I went into the studio 334 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 1: I recorded that, and then I went down to the 335 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:17,160 Speaker 1: museum to see the museum. And having World War Two 336 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 1: veterans in my family, one was still alive, my uncle Jack. 337 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: He had never been to the museum, so I sent 338 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 1: him down there, and they were recording our World War 339 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:33,199 Speaker 1: Two veterans on videotape and preserving them there in the archive, 340 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: and they used them throughout the museum where you can 341 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: punch a button and you'll see an elderly World War 342 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 1: Two veteran talking about a particular battle or a moment 343 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,879 Speaker 1: that they experienced during World War Two, and that helps 344 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,239 Speaker 1: us to put everything in context as we learned the 345 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: stories of World War Two. My uncle Jack recorded one 346 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: of those videos when he went down there. And when 347 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:01,159 Speaker 1: my uncle Jack passed away at ninety years old in 348 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen, I called Nick Mueller, one of the co 349 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:10,200 Speaker 1: founders with Steven Ambrose of the museum, and I said, Nick, 350 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 1: I want to do something to help the museum. I'd 351 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 1: like to know my uncle got to go there and 352 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: he got to be recorded, and every family should have 353 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 1: that recording of their World War two veteran. What can 354 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 1: we do? And every World War two veteran should see 355 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:32,440 Speaker 1: that museum, and we're losing them rapidly. And so Nick said, 356 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 1: you know one way that you could help is by 357 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 1: funding another historian. If you funded another historian, we'd be 358 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: able to record many more of these stories, because not 359 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: only do they record him at the museum, but there 360 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: are many veterans they can't travel, so they will send 361 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: the production team to the veteran. And so I said done, 362 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: and my foundation started funding one of the historians. And 363 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 1: we also have a tremendous relation ship with American Airlines. 364 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: I wanted to get these World War Two veterans to 365 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 1: go see this museum. So I contacted my friends in American. 366 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 1: I said, I'd like to start a program where we 367 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:14,680 Speaker 1: put these veterans on these airplanes and we'd take them 368 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: down there for two or three days and let them 369 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 1: see the museum. Let them experience the museum. My foundation 370 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,880 Speaker 1: will fund hotel rooms and food and whatever we need 371 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:27,879 Speaker 1: to do. If you'll provide the transportation, will take care 372 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:31,919 Speaker 1: of the rest. And so Americans said yes. I was 373 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: doing quite a bit with American on many fronts. They'd 374 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:40,439 Speaker 1: been so supportive of our veterans, and we created Soaring Valor, 375 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: and we've taken hundreds and hundreds of World War Two 376 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 1: veterans to the National World War Two Museum. You can 377 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 1: go to Garysoneese Foundation dot org, go to the YouTube 378 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:55,160 Speaker 1: channel and you'll see dozens of videos. And then one 379 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: additional element that I wanted to add was teaming up 380 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: these World War Two veterans with high school students. Those 381 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 1: trips are remarkable. We will offer a high school the 382 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:13,360 Speaker 1: opportunity to pair up twenty thirty forty high school students 383 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 1: with twenty or thirty or forty World War Two veterans, 384 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: and these students get to travel with a World War 385 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 1: Two veteran to the museum, experience the museum through their eyes, 386 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:28,879 Speaker 1: and learn from it, and it is life changing for 387 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:32,439 Speaker 1: these students. It's really a galvanizing moment and something that 388 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 1: I'll always be proud to have been a part of. 389 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:57,199 Speaker 1: It's an amazing program that the Foundation has. You know, 390 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 1: the most recent combat casualties were the thirteen young Americans 391 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:09,120 Speaker 1: who were killed in Afghanistan. And I understand that Dave Scharpentier, 392 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 1: who's a US Navy veteran. He owns Northwood's Greenhouse and 393 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 1: ice Cream and Prentice, Wisconsin. And my wife and my 394 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: son in law are both cheeseheads, so they have some 395 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: identity with Prentis, Wisconsin. But he apparently was so deeply 396 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:27,159 Speaker 1: affected when the thirteen US service members were killed in 397 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:30,919 Speaker 1: August that he hung thirteen flags side by side in 398 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: his ice cream store, and then he held a fundraiser 399 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 1: over Liberty Weekend, raised over a thousand dollars selling ice cream, 400 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 1: all of which he donated to the Garysonese Foundation. Do 401 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:46,400 Speaker 1: you find this kind of spontaneous citizenship really is kind 402 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:49,879 Speaker 1: of at the heart of what you're doing well. Any 403 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 1: donation to the Garysonese Foundation are always so very much appreciated. 404 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:59,159 Speaker 1: I don't take for granted that people have seen me 405 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:03,640 Speaker 1: out there doing things and talking about having a foundation 406 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:06,639 Speaker 1: and taking in donations from the public so that we 407 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 1: can do all these different things. I feel a tremendous responsibility. 408 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 1: When somebody makes a donation like that, they are basically saying, 409 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 1: I trust you, I support you, I want you to 410 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: take this generosity and these contributions and get them to 411 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:27,200 Speaker 1: the right place. And I feel a tremendous responsibility. I'm 412 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: glad that he chose the Garysoneese Foundation because we have 413 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 1: so many programs and we're supporting so many veterans out 414 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: There are many Afghan veterans who have been wounded, gold 415 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 1: Star families who've lost loved ones in Afghanistan. I feel 416 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: deeply for each and every one of them that are 417 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 1: going through these things. And I know that people like 418 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 1: Dave in Wisconsin feels the same way. And you want 419 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 1: to try to find some way to channel that you're 420 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 1: in pain, you want to do something, you want to 421 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 1: take up the charge. That's exactly what happened to me. 422 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:06,160 Speaker 1: I mean, like I said, September eleventh. I watched those 423 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 1: airplanes go into those buildings, and I was called to 424 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 1: action and tried to do something. And when I started 425 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:18,439 Speaker 1: my foundation, I had already been very, very active with 426 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 1: military and veterans, supporting multiple charities and out there, so 427 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: I already had a pretty good reputation for trying to 428 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 1: do this work. And I put my name on this 429 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 1: foundation because I wanted people to know how much it means. 430 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 1: You know, I could have called it something else, but 431 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 1: I put my name on it. And I did that 432 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: because I had been working so relentlessly in trying to 433 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 1: get out there and make sure that our troops were 434 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:49,240 Speaker 1: taken care of. That when somebody makes a donation to me, 435 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:52,399 Speaker 1: they are basically saying, you know, I trust you to 436 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:55,159 Speaker 1: do the right thing with it. They're going through some 437 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 1: personal pain seeing the men and women coming back from 438 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 1: the war zones broke and knowing that families are losing 439 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: loved ones, and they want to try to do something 440 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 1: to help, and that's exactly what I tried to do. 441 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: I thank everybody who makes donations like that, who take 442 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: up the charge to raise money and donate it to 443 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:16,199 Speaker 1: the Garysoneese Foundation. Well I think of our listeners. Just 444 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:21,399 Speaker 1: think about the time investment to do five hundred and 445 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: thirty concerts and all the other things you've done. I mean, 446 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:28,480 Speaker 1: you've dedicated not just your money, but you've dedicated your 447 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:31,159 Speaker 1: life to making a difference. And in that context, I 448 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 1: don't want to ask you from your perspective, with all 449 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:37,440 Speaker 1: the things you've done, how do you view Veterans Day? 450 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 1: What does it mean to you? Well, having a foundation 451 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:43,399 Speaker 1: with a mission each day to serve our veterans, I 452 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:46,920 Speaker 1: feel like every day is Veterans Day. It's my day 453 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 1: to salute our veterans. We're actually giving a home away 454 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 1: Veterans Day, our seventy fifth home to a service member 455 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 1: in Texas, and we continue this mission. Veterans Day is 456 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 1: a special moment for the American people to salute our 457 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:07,159 Speaker 1: American veterans. Mister speaker, being a historian, you know the 458 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 1: history of Veterans Day. It was Armistice Day at the 459 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: end of World War One November eleventh, nineteen eighteen. But 460 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 1: in nineteen fifty four, after having gone through World War One, 461 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:25,920 Speaker 1: World War Two, and Korea, Dwight Eisenhower wrote a proclamation 462 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all American veterans. 463 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 1: And this happened in nineteen fifty four, and from nineteen 464 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: fifty four on Armistice Day has been Veterans Day. It's 465 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:42,320 Speaker 1: our day in America to salute and celebrate the men 466 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:44,680 Speaker 1: and women who have served our country. That is a 467 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: special day for all of us to pay attention to 468 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 1: those who have served. I suggest to anyone listening out there, 469 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:57,040 Speaker 1: and I know your listeners are very tuned in to 470 00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 1: supporting our veterans anyway, but make a esther. You know, 471 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 1: there are veterans and every restaurant across the country they 472 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 1: wear those little hats with their branch of service on it. 473 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 1: There are men and women in active duty in uniform. 474 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 1: Pat them on the back, buy them a meal, tell 475 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: them thank you, just to send them a note. Go 476 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 1: to your local VA. We have thousands of veterans living 477 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 1: in the VA who are lonely, who have been forgotten, 478 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 1: who don't really have families, and the VAS taken care 479 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 1: of them. That's where they live. And just going in 480 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:30,480 Speaker 1: there and patting them on the back, taking them a meal, 481 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 1: or just sitting down with them and showing them that 482 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: what they have done for our country matters to you. 483 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 1: That'll make a big difference in their lives. I always 484 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:42,160 Speaker 1: take those opportunities just pat them on the back, and 485 00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:44,960 Speaker 1: that can change somebody's life. I mean, for example, if 486 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 1: you're a soldier and you're walking through an airport and 487 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: somebody comes up to you and pat you on the 488 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 1: back and says, you know, I appreciate what you do. 489 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:55,640 Speaker 1: You as the person who's doing the patent on the back, 490 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:58,040 Speaker 1: You don't know what this service member has been through. 491 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 1: Maybe you just lost ten friends, maybe he was at 492 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 1: the Kabul airport. Maybe he's got a bunch of wounded bodies, 493 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 1: maybe somebody's committed suicide that he knows. Maybe he's going 494 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:14,280 Speaker 1: through some difficult times. And you coming up and just saying, hey, 495 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:18,760 Speaker 1: thank you, I appreciate you, I'm grateful to you. That 496 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: may change that day, change that week, change that month 497 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 1: for that service member. You know, I read a quote 498 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 1: where you said, quote, well, we can never do enough 499 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 1: for our defenders and the deliverance. We can always do 500 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:34,960 Speaker 1: a little more. I think anybody who listens to this 501 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:38,280 Speaker 1: and thinks about what you have done is going to 502 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 1: be encouraged and challenged to also do a little more, 503 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:46,120 Speaker 1: and I really think you are a remarkable citizen. You're 504 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 1: setting a remarkable standard. I think you've influenced the lives 505 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 1: of literally tens of thousands of Americans well your effort, 506 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:55,200 Speaker 1: and I hope over the next few years that you'll 507 00:30:55,240 --> 00:30:58,440 Speaker 1: continue to do that. I want to encourage our listeners 508 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: to go to garus and He's foundation dot org slash donate. 509 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:05,840 Speaker 1: We're also making a donation today to help support the 510 00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: programs that Gary has developed that help veterans, first responders 511 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 1: and their families. I also wanted to say Gary, I'm very, 512 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 1: very grateful that you would take this time to join us, 513 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 1: and I think that anybody who hears us today is 514 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:23,640 Speaker 1: going to be deeply moved by your patriotism and your 515 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:29,000 Speaker 1: commitment and the extraordinary sacrifices you've made to be able 516 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 1: to help those who defend our freedoms. Sir, thank you 517 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: for having me today, thank you for giving me the 518 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:38,800 Speaker 1: opportunity to share a little bit of what we're doing 519 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 1: at the Gary Sonese Foundation, and thank you for your 520 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: service to our country all these years. God bless you. 521 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:50,960 Speaker 1: Thank you to my guests. Gary Sinese, please visit our 522 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:54,320 Speaker 1: show page at newsworld dot com to make a donation 523 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 1: to the Gary Sonese Foundation supporting veterans, first responders and 524 00:31:58,960 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: their families. Newts World is produced by Gingwische three sixty 525 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 1: and iHeartMedia. Our executive producer is Debbie Myers, our producer 526 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:12,920 Speaker 1: is Garnsey Sloan, and our researcher is Rachel Peterson. Our 527 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:17,080 Speaker 1: work for the show was created by Steve Penley. Special 528 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:20,400 Speaker 1: thanks to the team at Gingwish three sixty. If you've 529 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:23,719 Speaker 1: been enjoying Newtsworld, I hope you'll go to Apple Podcast 530 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 1: and both rate us with five stars and give us 531 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:29,640 Speaker 1: a review so others can learn what it's all about. 532 00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:33,080 Speaker 1: Right now, listeners of Newtsworld can sign up for my 533 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:37,240 Speaker 1: three free weekly columns at Gingwish three sixty dot com 534 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 1: slash newsletter. I'm Newt Gingrich. This is Newtsworld