Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band Help DoD Kick Off Military Appreciation Month
May 04, 2006

Actor and director Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band will perform during an afternoon concert at the Pentagon beginning at noon, Friday, May 5, helping the Department of Defense’s “America Supports You” program kick off Military Appreciation Month.

“America Supports You” is an ongoing nationwide initiative that showcases and communicates America’s support for the men and women of the Armed Forces. Since its launch in November 2004 by DoD, the “America Supports You” program has welcomed more than 200 grassroots organizations and more than 20 corporate sponsers to its team. Twenty-seven of those groups will be attendance at the concert. For a complete list of the groups attending the concert, please visit: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2006/d20060504sinise.pdf .

Renowned for his role as Lt. Dan in the movie “Forrest Gump,” Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band have performed USO concerts for military men and women at American military bases across the United States and throughout Europe. Gary Sinise recently returned from a trip visiting the troops in Afghanistan.

Other Military Appreciation Month events “America Supports You” will be highlighting are the Joint Open House at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., May 19-20; New York City Fleet Week in New York City, N.Y., May 23-29; and the Indianapolis 500 in Indianapolis, Ind., May 28.

Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the North Parking Entrance only. Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event and please have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification. Please call (703) 697-5131 for escort into the building.

Many “America Supports You” team members support the troops through letter writing, care packages, helping the wounded when they return home, assisting military families, sending an email or kind gesture. To learn more about how you can support military personnel, please visit http://www.americasupportsyou.mil .