By India McCarty
As we celebrate the 4th of July this year, many around the country, including actor and veterans’ advocate Gary Sinise, are sharing their gratitude for our armed forces.
“On the Fourth of July this year,” Sinise wrote in a 2023 blog post. “We celebrate our nation and the patriots who gave their all to make it great.”
The FORREST GUMP actor shared that his deep appreciation for the US military began when he was young, looking up to the many members of his family who served, from his grandfather, who served in WWI, to his father, who fought in Korea.
This later led to Sinise establishing the Gary Sinise Foundation where, per their mission statement, they “serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. We do this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.”
“At the Gary Sinise Foundation we believe that freedom and security are precious gifts that we, as Americans, should never take for granted,” the actor’s blog post continued. “There is a cost of our freedom and security, a price that is paid by those who are willing to protect it.”
Related: Gary Sinise: ‘Supporting Our Nation’s Heroes Is My Lifelong Mission’
Sinise concluded, “This Fourth of July, I urge everyone to think about doing something a little extra for our veterans. Every American has a part to play. And while we can never do enough to show our gratitude to our nation’s defenders, I believe we can always do a little more.”
Sinise frequently speaks about the strong call he feels to help our nation’s veterans. During a recent commencement speech at Vanderbilt University, he told the graduates, “Remember this: There is a healing power in service work.”
“When joy connects to mission, a life of purpose begins to take shape,” he continued. “Giving back to our freedom providers and first responders has truly given my life purpose and has been a great privilege and joy for me. As I have traveled the world visiting our troops, sometimes visiting countries that have not known the blessings of freedom, I have realized more and more the high cost of preserving that freedom and the sacrifices of those who have provided it for us over the years.”
Sinise concluded, “Freedom is not something that all human beings simply get to have and enjoy. It must be fought for and defended. A price must be paid. And I’m grateful to those who are willing to pay that price, sometimes the ultimate price.”
This 4th of July, people around the country will follow Sinise’s lead and reflect on the sacrifices so many men and women have made in service of our country.
Read Next: Why Gary Sinise Serves Veterans: ‘All About Making People Feel Better’
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