1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:04,760 Speaker 1: This is the best of Newtsworld coming up my conversation 2 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: with Gary Sinise on this episode of Newtsworld. Gary Sinise's stage, 3 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: film and television career has spanned more than four decades. 4 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: At the age of eighteen, he co founded Chicago's Steppenwolf 5 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: Theater Company, and as Lieutenant Dan Taylor and Forrest Gump, 6 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 1: he received nominations for Golden Grobe, Screen Actors Guild and 7 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: Academy Awards, and earned the Best Supporting Actor Award from 8 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: the National Board of Review and the Commander's Award from 9 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 1: the Disabled American Veterans. His other film credits include Apollo thirteen, Ransom, 10 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: Snake Eyes, Impostor, The Greenwale, Mission to Mars, and The 11 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: Human State. His most recent film and television work include 12 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: I Still Believe Good, Joe Bell, and the Netflix series THIRDI, 13 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: Teen Reasons Why. He starred as Jack Garrett on the series' 14 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: Criminal Minds Beyond Borders and for nine seasons as Detective 15 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,119 Speaker 1: Mac Taylor on the hit series CSI New York, both 16 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: of which aired on CBS. He is an Emmy Golden 17 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: Globe and two time SAG Award winner for his roles 18 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: in Truman and George Wallace. For nearly forty years. Gary 19 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: has been an advocate on behalf of America's service members, 20 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: beginning in the early nineteen eighties supporting local Vietnam Veterans 21 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: groups in the Chicago area and in the nineteen nineties, 22 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: when his portrayal of Lieutenant Dan formed an enduring connection 23 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: with service members throughout the military community, and as he 24 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: worked on behalf of the Disabled American Veterans Organization, which 25 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: he continues to actively support today following the attacks of 26 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: September eleventh, two thousand and one. Sinisa's dedication to our 27 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: nation's active duty defenders, veterans, first responders, and their families 28 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: has become his personal crusade of support, service, and gratitude 29 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: for all those who protect our freedom and serve our country. 30 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: And I just felt that with Veterans Day, I couldn't 31 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,920 Speaker 1: imagine anyone more appropriate, and so I'm very pleased to 32 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: welcome my guest and somebody I admired deeply. Gary Sinise, 33 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining me again. You know we last 34 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 1: talked to November twenty nineteen, and you shared a lot 35 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: about your acting career, but I wanted to have you 36 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,959 Speaker 1: back because here at Chemistry sixty. We've named the Gary 37 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: Sinise Foundation our Charity of the month for November, and 38 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: I wanted you to talk about the foundation, why you founded, 39 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: and what are some of the current projects you're supporting. 40 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 2: First of all, thanks for having me. 41 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 3: It's wonderful to be with you again, sir, and thank 42 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 3: you for making the Gary Sinese Foundation your charity of 43 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 3: the month. I couldn't be more grateful for you to 44 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 3: do that, and trying to draw some attention to what 45 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 3: we're doing at the Gary Sneeze Foundation. I have so 46 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 3: many different initiatives and programs going at the Foundation, covering 47 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 3: a lot of territory within the military, veteran and first 48 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 3: responder space that we can always use more support. It's 49 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 3: an expanding and growing foundation with many many programs and 50 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 3: something that I'm very very committed to. I think probably 51 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,519 Speaker 3: among the if not the most rewarding thing I've ever 52 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 3: been able to do. I've been blessed to have a 53 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 3: great career, blessed to have success in a movie and 54 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 3: television business, and blessed that I could kind of channel 55 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 3: that success into doing some good for our military service 56 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 3: members and their families. That's what the foundation is about 57 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 3: serving and honoring the needs of the men. 58 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 2: And women who serve our country, many veterans in my 59 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 2: own family. That's where it begins with me. 60 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 3: And then, as you said, I got involved back in 61 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 3: the eighties and nineties with supporting veterans in various ways. 62 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 3: But it was really the turning point of September eleventh, 63 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 3: two thousand and one that thrust me into a level 64 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 3: of service that I never suspected really and never really 65 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,799 Speaker 3: thought that the Lieutenant Ann character in Forrest Gump would 66 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 3: play a greater role in my life with regards to 67 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 3: serving and honoring the needs of our service members than 68 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 3: just being a part in a movie. 69 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 2: So many things have happened along the way. 70 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:37,679 Speaker 3: I've met extraordinary people, and thankfully the American people, after 71 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 3: ten years of forging ahead with the Gary Senese Foundation, 72 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 3: we have their trust as a reliable resource for their 73 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 3: generosity to help us do more. 74 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:52,239 Speaker 1: You've really been developing the program, and we were looking 75 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,039 Speaker 1: at some of the things you guys have accomplished seventy 76 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: four especially adapted smart homes completed for severely wounded heroes. 77 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: One hundred and two thousand attendees at the Invincible Spirit 78 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: Festival Since twenty twelve, five hundred and fifty four thousand 79 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: meals served to our nation's defenders across the country. Eleven 80 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,279 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty one veterans and guardians have participated in 81 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 1: the Soaring Valor experiences. Three hundred and twenty five emergency 82 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: relief grants were awarded to police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. 83 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: Eleven thousand pieces of equipment have been donated by the 84 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 1: Gary Sinese Foundation, Thirty five adapted vehicles provided to improve 85 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: everyday life. You've donated your time playing five hundred and 86 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: thirty support concerts, and ninety two hundred and ninety five 87 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: children of fallen military heroes and their surviving parent or 88 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: guardian have joined you in the Snowball Express since twenty eighteen. 89 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 1: I mean this has really become a very major component 90 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:52,480 Speaker 1: of your. 91 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 2: Life, yes, sir. 92 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 3: Besides my family and taking care of my family and 93 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 3: looking out for them and the grandchildren all of that, 94 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 3: this is a priority for me and something that I'm 95 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 3: focused on. I have a great team of people that 96 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 3: we've been able to hire to expand the mission. I 97 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 3: was doing this for several years, you know, supporting the 98 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 3: military and going on USO tours and visiting the hospitals 99 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 3: and traveling and supporting many, many different military charities out there, 100 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 3: and it just became clear at a certain point that 101 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 3: this was something that was going to be a part 102 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 3: of my life for many, many years to come, and 103 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:34,719 Speaker 3: so I knew the next step was going to be 104 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 3: to create my own Military Veteran First Responders Support nonprofit. 105 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:43,359 Speaker 3: I just believe that our country owes a great debt 106 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:45,679 Speaker 3: to the men and women who keep us safe and free. 107 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 3: They don't ask for much, they don't get much. They're volunteers, 108 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 3: and if they're going to volunteer to go into dark 109 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 3: and dangerous places to protect and defend freedom for me 110 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 3: and my family, I feel, as a public figure, there's 111 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,479 Speaker 3: something that I can do to help. And it was 112 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 3: really again the turning point of September eleventh. I wrote 113 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 3: a book, Grateful American. I think that might have been 114 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 3: when we were talking last. My book is called Grateful 115 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 3: American and Journey from Self to Service, And there is 116 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 3: a chapter in my book called turning Point, which is 117 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 3: the moment that I turned full on and full force 118 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 3: into service work and this mission of helping our veterans. 119 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 3: It was September eleventh. 120 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 2: That did that. Life changed after that. 121 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 3: I had been doing a play on Broadway that closed 122 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 3: about six weeks before the attacks of September eleventh, and 123 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 3: that was the last play I did. That was twenty 124 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 3: years ago, because life just changed. I continued in the 125 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 3: movie and television business, but everything else was devoted to 126 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 3: traveling for the troops. And you know, when you sit 127 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 3: down and do a play there for six eight months, 128 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,559 Speaker 3: you can't leave, you can't go. And life just turned 129 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 3: in a different direction for me. It was certainly a 130 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:07,559 Speaker 3: turning point towards service. And I'll tell you one quick 131 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 3: story if I can remember, mister speaker, The Friday after 132 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 3: September eleventh. September eleventh was a Tuesday, and that Friday, 133 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 3: President Bush had declared that the Friday would be a 134 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 3: national day of prayer and remembrance for the victims of 135 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 3: September eleventh. So across the country, churches and houses of 136 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:35,839 Speaker 3: worship and synagogues, everything was packed to the gills. People 137 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 3: were looking for some way to process this awful thing 138 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 3: that we had witnessed on television, and so many had 139 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 3: witnessed firsthand. And it was a terrible, terrible time. And 140 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 3: I took my family. My kids were young. We were 141 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 3: in our little Catholic church in our town. Small church, 142 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 3: but it was packed to the gills and by the 143 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 3: time we got there there were no seats and I 144 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 3: was standing up on the side, just holding my little 145 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 3: daughter's hand, tears rolling down my face, and something happened 146 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 3: to me. The priest said something about service being a 147 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 3: great healer, and I was looking for some way to 148 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 3: heal a breaking heart. 149 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 2: And from that moment I. 150 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 3: Started focusing on what can I do for the men 151 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 3: and women. A short while later, we started deploying Afghanistan, 152 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 3: people started getting hurt and having veterans in my family, 153 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 3: having been involved with veterans in the nineties and. 154 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 2: The eighties, it hit me like a light bulb. 155 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 3: I'm going to go full force and make sure that 156 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 3: what happened to our Vietnam veterans when they came home 157 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 3: for war, the way the nation turned its back on 158 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 3: them and treated them, and they had to regress into 159 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 3: the shadows, dealing with their pain by themselves. And I 160 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 3: wanted to make sure that those deploying to Afghanistan Iraq 161 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 3: would not face the same thing when coming home, that 162 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 3: they would know that they were appreciated, and so I 163 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 3: started going to them, and I got on airplanes, and 164 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 3: I went to the war zones, and I went to 165 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 3: different countries where our troops are deployed and started visiting them. 166 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 3: And it manifested into a full time mission that has 167 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,680 Speaker 3: continued on and on into the founding of the Gary 168 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 3: Sneeze Foundation. 169 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: You know two thousand and three was your first USO 170 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: tour in Iraq. What do you remember about that trip? 171 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 1: Did that impress you, that experience of being with the troops? 172 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 3: Oh, no question. It was actually June of that year. 173 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:07,200 Speaker 3: I went to my first USO tour. I volunteered and 174 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 3: called them up and said, please, I want to do 175 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:10,680 Speaker 3: something for the troops. 176 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 2: I want to go to Iraq. I want to visit them. 177 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:14,199 Speaker 2: And they had. 178 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 3: Set up a big tour that a lot of entertainers 179 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 3: were on and it was in June of two thousand 180 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 3: and three. It was the first big USO tour. Remember 181 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 3: when the statue of Saddam Hussein got yanked down in 182 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 3: that town square. Our soldiers tied a chain around the statue, 183 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 3: hooked it up to a tank, and then pulled the 184 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 3: thing down. And that was in April of two thousand 185 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 3: and three, and in June of two thousand and three, 186 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 3: I was in Baghdad. Just two months after that. I mean, 187 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 3: all the kinds of entertainers were on that trip. Northwest 188 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 3: Airlines gave us a seven forty seven and one hundred 189 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:51,839 Speaker 3: and eighty people got on that airplane and went over 190 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 3: to Iraq and split up and we went all over 191 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 3: the place visiting troops and it was life changing, it 192 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:00,320 Speaker 3: was galvanizing. As soon as I got back, I said, 193 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 3: where can I go now. I didn't have a job 194 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 3: at that at that time, so I was like, send 195 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 3: me somewhere. And so within two weeks of getting back 196 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 3: from that trip, I was in Italy on July fourth, 197 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 3: visiting troops in Italy. And then I came back and 198 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 3: I had a movie that was going to open at 199 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 3: the Venice Film Festival at the end of August, and 200 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 3: I told the USO, I said, I'm going to be 201 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 3: in Venice at a film festival. I want to go 202 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 3: somewhere else when I'm done with that film festival. So 203 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 3: they sent me to Germany and I went to Germany. 204 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 3: So within three months I've done, you know, three tours, 205 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 3: and then I came back and I went to Fort 206 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 3: Stewart for the first time, I went to Walter Reed, 207 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 3: I was in the hospitals, I was all over the place, 208 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 3: and by November I was back in Iraq again for 209 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 3: my second trip to Iraq. So about six months in 210 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 3: two thousand and three were the galvanizing months that set 211 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 3: me on this non stop course of supporting the men 212 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 3: and women who serve our country. Starting a band, started 213 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 3: taking my band out there, started going here, there, and everywhere, 214 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 3: and it all came together eventually into the creation of 215 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 3: the Garysonese Foundation in twenty eleven. 216 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,719 Speaker 1: So as you're doing this, what's the point where you 217 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: decided to form the Lieutenant Dan Band. 218 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 3: Well, I'll tell you it was funny. So I did 219 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 3: all those trips in two thousand and three right, and 220 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 3: they were handshake tours. You get on an airplane, you 221 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 3: go over there, you shake hands with the troops, you 222 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 3: take pictures, you visit with them, sign autographs, just visit. 223 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 3: I just kept going to visit and to tell them 224 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 3: I appreciated them, and again with Vietnam veterans and my 225 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 3: family and remembering what it was like for them to 226 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 3: not get any gratitude and appreciation I went overboard with 227 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 3: our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to make sure that they 228 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 3: knew they were appreciated. 229 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 2: So I was doing things all over the place. And 230 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 2: on that very first. 231 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 3: Tour to Iraq, Kid Rock was on that tour, and 232 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 3: LeAnn Womack was on that tour, and Wayne Newton was 233 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:07,439 Speaker 3: on that tour, and there were others that were entertainers. 234 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 3: I was just Lieutenant Dan going there to say hi 235 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 3: and thank you. But it was a big entertainment tour. 236 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 3: We had performances that we did and Kid Rock played 237 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 3: and all these entertainers entertained and then they'd say Gary 238 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 3: Sonias is here, and I got up and said something, 239 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 3: and then he introduced one of the entertainers. And on 240 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 3: that trip I said to the US, oh, you know, 241 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 3: I have a band. I have some people that I 242 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 3: play with. I'd like to do this too, you know. 243 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 3: And they didn't take it very seriously because I'm an 244 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 3: actor and generally actors with bands aren't not that impressive. 245 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 3: But I kept going on these tours and doing this 246 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 3: handshake thing, and every time I would go on a 247 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 3: tour that year, I would say, you know, I have 248 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 3: a band. 249 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 2: I'd like to take my band. 250 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 3: Well, eventually they said okay, they would allow me to 251 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 3: take my band. And at that time, it was just 252 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 3: some musicians that I played with for fun every once 253 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 3: in a while. But I got to call them up 254 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 3: and say, guess what, we're going to rehearse some songs 255 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 3: that we're going to go on a tour for the USO. 256 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 3: In February of two thousand and four, they sent us 257 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 3: on our first overseas tour to Diego Garcia, which you 258 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 3: probably know where that is. It's in the middle of nowhere, 259 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 3: out in the Indian Ocean, so it's about as far 260 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 3: as you can get away from civilization, and that's where 261 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 3: they sent my band to play first. But it was 262 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 3: great because you know, it was our first trip. We 263 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 3: played two shows, two nights in Diego Garcia. They don't 264 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 3: get a lot of entertainment down there, and they had 265 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 3: B one bombers that were flying from Diego Garcia over 266 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 3: Afghanistan doing these bombing runs, and they sent us out 267 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 3: there and we entertained them, and then we went to 268 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 3: Singapore after that, and then we went to Korea after that, 269 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 3: and that was our first tour with the Lieutenant Dan 270 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 3: band I came back and. 271 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 2: I said, where can I go now? I want to 272 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 2: go to US bases. 273 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 3: So they put together a bus and truck and we 274 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 3: went to three or four US bases within three months. 275 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 3: And you mentioned the number of concerts that I've donated 276 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 3: my time to. I have to pay all the production 277 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 3: costs and pay the band members and everything, but I 278 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 3: played for free, and since those early days, it's five 279 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 3: hundred and thirty some concerts. 280 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 2: We just played Friday night at Nellis. 281 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 3: Air Force Base for everybody there. So we continue to 282 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 3: do it, and I love doing it. I love seeing 283 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 3: the smiles on the faces of the men and women 284 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 3: who serve our country. 285 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: I have to ask, what do you play? 286 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 2: I'm the bass player? 287 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 1: All right? 288 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 2: Yeah. 289 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 3: You should go to our website, Garysineze Foundation dot org 290 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 3: and go to our YouTube channel. 291 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 2: You'll be able to see the band playing. 292 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: Does this go back to high school or when did 293 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: you pick up the bass? 294 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 3: Yes, well, it goes back to my first guitar in 295 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 3: fourth grade. Back in the sixties. I was a big 296 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 3: Beach Boys fan, and I loved the Beach Boys. I 297 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,160 Speaker 3: wanted to be like the Beach Boys, and I got 298 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,880 Speaker 3: a guitar and started to learn how to play it. 299 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 3: The guy who plays the bass early on is usually 300 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 3: the guy who's least proficient on the six string guitar. 301 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 3: So they said, we're going to take two strings away 302 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 3: from and you're going to play bass. And so I 303 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:23,680 Speaker 3: started playing bass and I loved it. And I played 304 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 3: bass in high school and bands all the way through 305 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 3: high school into my early twenties. And then I got 306 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:34,679 Speaker 3: so busy with stepenwell theater that you mentioned, which I 307 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,679 Speaker 3: started when I was eighteen with my pals, that I 308 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 3: just didn't play for a while. And then I picked 309 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 3: it up again in the late nineties just for fun. 310 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:47,879 Speaker 3: And then along came September eleventh, and I wanted to 311 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:49,400 Speaker 3: do something to help our troops. 312 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 2: And what does an actor do? 313 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 3: You know? 314 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 2: You call the USO. 315 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 3: And then I wanted to entertain so I started playing 316 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 3: music for him. 317 00:17:57,280 --> 00:17:59,680 Speaker 1: I have to tell you two things. One, my grandson 318 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: Robert plays the bass, so I now got to report 319 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: this into him that he does have a future. 320 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:08,160 Speaker 2: Well, I played for free. 321 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 3: I don't make a living if I had to make 322 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 3: a man and I don't know. 323 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: And then second, in terms of picking up an instrument, 324 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 1: after a while, Calista, just after her tour as the Ambassador, 325 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 1: had gotten away from her French horn, and she's always 326 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: played in the Fairfax Community Band. So she's now taking 327 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: it back up for the Christmas concert this year, and 328 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: she's going through some of that, you know, getting to 329 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: learn her horn again routine. 330 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:36,160 Speaker 2: It's never too late exactly. 331 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: She's doing a fine job of it. But my job 332 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 1: is to be audience. I have no musical talent of 333 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: any kind. I sit in applaud Let me ask you. 334 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 1: I mean, this is really remarkable both way you've put 335 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:51,119 Speaker 1: in but also some of the things you've developed. I 336 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: had the opportunity a couple of years ago to go 337 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 1: to the National World War Two Museum, which I think 338 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 1: is a real asset for the country. And you have 339 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 1: a soaring Valor program where your foundation both sends World 340 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 1: War Two veterans to visit the museum, but also records 341 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 1: their stories to share with the world. As a historian, 342 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 1: I think that's a tremendous concept. But how did you 343 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: come up with all that? 344 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 3: Well, sir, I've had a great relationship with the National 345 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:21,479 Speaker 3: World War Two Museum. There's no World War Two museum 346 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:26,360 Speaker 3: like it. It is the premiere tribute to the men 347 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:30,120 Speaker 3: and women who served during that period of time and 348 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 3: the stories that are told. 349 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:32,679 Speaker 2: They're remarkable. 350 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 3: As you know, it's a fantastic museum that continues to grow. 351 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 3: Years ago, back in nine twenty ten around in there, 352 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:47,880 Speaker 3: they opened a movie at the museum called Beyond All 353 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 3: Boundaries and they built a theater and it's an incredible experience, 354 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 3: a forty five minute film telling the story of World 355 00:19:57,520 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 3: War Two. So beautiful, and Tom Hanks was one of 356 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 3: the producers on it. And Tom was putting together some 357 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 3: actors to do voice work for the movie, and he 358 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 3: called me up and asked me if I would do 359 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:18,679 Speaker 3: the voice of Ernie Pyle in Beyond All Boundaries, and 360 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 3: I went into the studio I recorded that, and then 361 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 3: I went down to. 362 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 2: The museum to see the museum. 363 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 3: And having World War Two veterans in my family, one 364 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 3: was still alive, my uncle Jack. He had never been 365 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 3: to the museum, so I sent him down there, and 366 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:40,400 Speaker 3: they were recording our World War Two veterans on videotape 367 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 3: and preserving them there in the archive, and they used 368 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 3: them throughout the museum where you can punch a button 369 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:49,880 Speaker 3: and you'll see an elderly World War two veteran talking 370 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 3: about a particular battle or you know, a moment that 371 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,440 Speaker 3: they experienced during World War Two, and that helps us 372 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 3: to put everything in context as we learn the stories 373 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,199 Speaker 3: of World War Two. My uncle Jack recorded one of 374 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 3: those videos when he went down there. And when my 375 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 3: uncle Jack passed away at ninety years old in twenty fourteen, 376 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 3: I called Nick Mueller. One of the co founders was 377 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:20,399 Speaker 3: Steven Ambrose of the museum, and I said, Nick, I 378 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 3: want to do something to help the museum. I'd like 379 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 3: to you know, my uncle got to go there and 380 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:30,919 Speaker 3: he got to be recorded, and every family should have 381 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,399 Speaker 3: that recording of their World War two veteran. 382 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 2: What can we do? And every World War. 383 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:40,640 Speaker 3: Two veteran should see that museum, and we're losing them rapidly. 384 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 3: And so Nick said, you know one way that you 385 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 3: could help is by funding another historian. If you funded 386 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 3: another historian, we'd be able to record many more of 387 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,959 Speaker 3: these stories, because not only do they record him at 388 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 3: the museum, but there are many veterans that can't travel, 389 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 3: so they will send the production team to the veterans. 390 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 3: And so I said done, and my foundation started funding 391 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 3: one of the historians, and we also have a tremendous 392 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 3: relationship with American airlines. I wanted to get these World 393 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 3: War Two veterans to go see this museum. So I 394 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 3: contacted my friends an American, and I said, I'd like 395 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 3: to start a program where we put these veterans on 396 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 3: these airplanes and we take them down there for two 397 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 3: or three days and let them see the museum. Let 398 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 3: them experience the museum. My foundation will fund hotel rooms 399 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:34,920 Speaker 3: and food and whatever we need to do. If you'll 400 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 3: provide a transportation, we'll take care of the rest. And 401 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 3: so Americans said yes. I was doing quite a bit 402 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 3: with American on many fronts. They've been so supportive of 403 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:50,439 Speaker 3: our veterans. And we created Soaring Valor, and we've taken 404 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 3: hundreds and hundreds of World War Two veterans to the 405 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 3: National World War Two Museum. You can go to Garysonzefoundation 406 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 3: dot org, go to the YouTube channel and you'll see 407 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:06,959 Speaker 3: dozens of videos. And then one additional element that I 408 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 3: wanted to add was teaming up these World War Two 409 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:15,199 Speaker 3: veterans with high school students. Those trips are remarkable. We 410 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:19,440 Speaker 3: will offer a high school the opportunity to pair up 411 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 3: twenty thirty forty high school students with twenty or thirty 412 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 3: or forty World War Two veterans, and these students get 413 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 3: to travel with a World War Two veteran to the museum, 414 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 3: experience the museum through their eyes, and learn from it, 415 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 3: and it is life changing for these students. It's really 416 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 3: a galvanizing moment and something that I'll always be proud 417 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 3: to have been a part of. 418 00:23:45,359 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: It's an amazing program that the Foundation has. You know, 419 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:11,639 Speaker 1: the most recent combat casualties were the thirteen young Americans 420 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 1: who were killed in Afghanistan. And I understand that Dave Charpentier, 421 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: who's a US Navy veteran, he owns Northwoods Greenhouse and 422 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: ice Cream and Prentis, Wisconsin, and my wife and my 423 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 1: son in law are both cheeseheads, so they have some 424 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:32,360 Speaker 1: identity with Prentis, Wisconsin. But he apparently was so deeply 425 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,479 Speaker 1: affected when the thirteen US service members were killed in 426 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 1: August that he hung thirteen flags side by side in 427 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 1: his ice cream store, and then he held a fundraiser 428 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:46,640 Speaker 1: over Liberty Weekend, raised over one thousand dollars selling ice cream, 429 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 1: all of which he donated to the Gary Sinisee Foundation. 430 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 1: Do you find this kind of spontaneous citizenship really is 431 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 1: kind of at the heart of what you're doing well. 432 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 3: Any donation to the Garysonese Foundation are always so very 433 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 3: much appreciated. I don't take for granted that people have 434 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 3: seen me out there doing things and talking about having 435 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:15,679 Speaker 3: a foundation and taking in donations from the public so 436 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 3: that we can do all these different things. I feel 437 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 3: a tremendous responsibility. When somebody makes a donation like that, 438 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 3: they are basically saying I trust you, I support you, 439 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 3: I want you to take this generosity and these contributions 440 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:34,160 Speaker 3: and get them to the right place. And I feel 441 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:38,400 Speaker 3: a tremendous responsibility. I'm glad that he chose the Garysonese 442 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 3: Foundation because we have so many programs and we're supporting 443 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:47,119 Speaker 3: so many veterans out there, many Afghan veterans who have 444 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:53,119 Speaker 3: been wounded, gold Star families who've lost loved ones in Afghanistan. 445 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 3: I feel deeply for each and every one of them 446 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 3: that are going through these things, and I know that 447 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:03,719 Speaker 3: people like Dave in Wisconsin feels the same way. And 448 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:06,479 Speaker 3: you want to try to find some way to channel 449 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 3: that you're in pain. You want to do something you 450 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 3: want to take up the charge. That's exactly what happened 451 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 3: to me. I mean, like I said September eleventh, I 452 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 3: watched those airplanes go into those buildings, and I was 453 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:22,160 Speaker 3: called to action and tried to do something. And when 454 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:27,200 Speaker 3: I started my foundation, I had already been very, very 455 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:31,120 Speaker 3: active with military and veterans, supporting multiple charities and out there, 456 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,679 Speaker 3: so I already had a pretty good reputation for trying 457 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 3: to do this work. And I put my name on 458 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 3: this foundation because I wanted people to know how much 459 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,440 Speaker 3: it means. You know, I could have called it something else, 460 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 3: but I put my name on it. And I did 461 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:52,679 Speaker 3: that because I had been working so relentlessly in trying 462 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 3: to get out there and make sure that our troops 463 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:58,120 Speaker 3: were taken care of. That when somebody makes a donation 464 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:01,359 Speaker 3: to me, they are basically saying, you know, I trust 465 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:03,639 Speaker 3: you to do the right thing with it. They are 466 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 3: going through some personal pain seeing the men and women 467 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 3: coming back from the war zones broken, knowing that families 468 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 3: are losing loved ones, and they want to try to 469 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 3: do something to help, and that's exactly what I tried 470 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 3: to do. I thank everybody who makes donations like that 471 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:22,160 Speaker 3: who take up the charge to raise money and donate 472 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 3: it to the Garrisonese Foundation. 473 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 1: Well, I think of our listeners. Just think about the 474 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:32,320 Speaker 1: time investment to do five hundred and thirty concerts and 475 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:35,439 Speaker 1: all the other things you've done. I mean, you've dedicated 476 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:38,639 Speaker 1: not just your money, but you've dedicated your life to 477 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:41,080 Speaker 1: making a difference. And in that context, don't ask you 478 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: from your perspective, with all the things you've done, how 479 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 1: do you view Veterans Day? What does it mean to you? 480 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 3: Well, having a foundation with a mission each day to 481 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:55,440 Speaker 3: serve our veterans, I feel like every day is Veterans Day. 482 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 3: It's my day to salute our veterans. We're actually giving 483 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:03,719 Speaker 3: a home Awayterans Day, our seventy fifth home to a 484 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 3: service member in Texas, and we continue this mission. 485 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 2: Veterans Day is a special. 486 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:13,320 Speaker 3: Moment for the American people to salute our American veterans. 487 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:17,159 Speaker 3: Mister speaker, being a historian, you know the history of 488 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 3: Veterans Day. It was Armistice Day at the end of 489 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:26,880 Speaker 3: World War One November eleventh, nineteen eighteen. But in nineteen 490 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,120 Speaker 3: fifty four, after having gone through World War One, World 491 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 3: War Two, and Korea, Dwight Eisenhower wrote a proclamation changing 492 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:40,880 Speaker 3: Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all American veterans. 493 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 3: And this happened in nineteen fifty four, and from nineteen 494 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 3: fifty four on Armistice Day has been Veterans Day. It's 495 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 3: our day in America to salute and celebrate the men 496 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 3: and women who have served our country. That is a 497 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 3: special day for all of us to pay attention to 498 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 3: those who have served. I suggest to anyone listening out there, 499 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 3: and I knowe your listeners are very tuned in to 500 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 3: supporting our veterans anyway, but make a gesture. You know 501 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 3: there are veterans and every restaurant across the country they 502 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,360 Speaker 3: wear those little hats with their branch of service on it. 503 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 3: There are men and women in active duty in uniform, 504 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 3: pat them on the back, buy them. 505 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 2: A meal, tell them thank you, just to send them 506 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 2: a note. Go to your local VA. 507 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 3: We have thousands of veterans living in the VA who 508 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 3: are lonely, who've been forgotten, who don't really have families, 509 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 3: and the VAS taking care of them, that's where they live, 510 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 3: and just going in there and patting them on the back, 511 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 3: taking them a meal, or just sitting down with them 512 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 3: and showing them that what they have done for our 513 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 3: country matters to you. That'll make a big difference in 514 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 3: their lives. I always take those opportunities just pat them 515 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 3: on the back, and that can change somebody's life. I mean, 516 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 3: for example, if you're a soldier and you're walking through 517 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 3: an airport and somebody comes up to you and pat 518 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 3: you on the back and says, you know, I appreciate 519 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 3: what you do. You, as the person who's doing the 520 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 3: patent on the back, You don't know what this service 521 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 3: member has been through. Maybe you just lost ten friends, 522 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 3: Maybe he was at the Kaboul airport. Maybe he's got 523 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 3: a bunch of wounded buddies. Maybe somebody's committed suicide that 524 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:20,720 Speaker 3: he knows. Maybe he's going through some difficult times and 525 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 3: you coming up and just saying, hey, thank you, I 526 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 3: appreciate you, I'm grateful to you. That may change that day, 527 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:33,360 Speaker 3: change that week, change that month for that service member. 528 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 1: You know, I read a quote where you said, quote, well, 529 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 1: we can never do enough for our defenders and the lovelans. 530 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: We can always do a little more. I think anybody 531 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 1: who listens to this and thinks about what you have 532 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:50,280 Speaker 1: done is going to be encouraged and challenged to also 533 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:53,120 Speaker 1: do a little more. And I really think you are 534 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:57,360 Speaker 1: a remarkable citizen. You're setting a remarkable standard. I think 535 00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:00,640 Speaker 1: you've influenced the lives of literally tens of thousands of 536 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 1: Americans by your effort, and I hope over the next 537 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 1: few years that you'll continue to do that. I want 538 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:10,080 Speaker 1: to encourage our listeners to go to Garysonese Foundation dot 539 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:14,040 Speaker 1: org slash donate. We're also making a donation today to 540 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 1: help support the programs that Gary has developed that help veterans, 541 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:22,480 Speaker 1: first responders and their families. I also wanted to say Gary, 542 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: I'm very, very grateful that you would take this time 543 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:28,440 Speaker 1: to join us, and I think that anybody who hears 544 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 1: this today is going to be deeply moved by your 545 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 1: patriotism and your commitment and the extraordinary sacrifices you've made 546 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:40,640 Speaker 1: to be able to help those who defend our freedoms. 547 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 3: Sir, thank you for having me today, thank you for 548 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:47,240 Speaker 3: giving me the opportunity to share a little bit of 549 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:50,840 Speaker 3: what we're doing at the Garysonese Foundation, and thank you 550 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 3: for your service to our country all these years. 551 00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 2: God bless you. 552 00:31:56,920 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 1: Thank you to my guest garysonicsee. You can get a 553 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:03,600 Speaker 1: link to the Aarrisinese foundations supporting veterans, first responders and 554 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 1: their families on our show page at newtsworld dot com. 555 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:11,360 Speaker 1: Newtsworld is produced by Gingerish three sixty and iHeartMedia. Our 556 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: executive producer is Guarnsey Sloan and our researcher is Rachel Peterson. 557 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:19,560 Speaker 1: The artwork for the show was created by Steve Penley. 558 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:23,680 Speaker 1: Special thanks to the team at Ginglishtree sixty. If you've 559 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:26,680 Speaker 1: been enjoying Nutsworld, I hope you'll go to Apple Podcast 560 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:29,680 Speaker 1: and both rate us with five stars and give us 561 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:32,400 Speaker 1: a review so others can learn what it's all about. 562 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 1: Right now, listeners of Newtsworld can sign up for my 563 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 1: three free weekly columns at Ginglishtree sixty dot com slash newsletter. 564 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:43,640 Speaker 1: I'm Newt Gingrich. This is Newtsworld.