5 Actors Who Honor Our Veterans
By Movieguide® Staff
As Americans honor the men and women who serve or have served in the U.S. armed forces this Veteran’s Day, here are five celebrities who are not afraid to celebrate freedom, sacrifice and American troops.
Gary Sinise
Sinise has brought the Lt. Dan Band to major war zones to inspire American troops, and it makes the actor all the more grateful for American freedom.
“I’ve stood on the border between North and South Korea several times,” Sinise says in an interview with Fox News. “They’re free in the South and slaved enslaved in the North. You value your freedom that much more when you value that people have provided for you, and that’s the men and women of the United States military. That’s why I started my foundation. I want to support them in every way I can. Because freedom is precious, and it has to be fought for, it has to be protected. Independence from a tyranny has to be fought for and protected and I thank God for the men and women who are willing to do that and I just want to help them out.”
Sinise says his appreciation for the military actually really took off after he took the part of Lt. Dan.
“I ended up playing the Vietnam veteran in Forrest Gump and, and, at that time, I had done very little,” Sinise says. “I just hadn’t hadn’t worked in the movie or television business for very long at all when I started going out and visiting troops around the world and going to the hospitals. Most of them didn’t know who I was, but they knew Lieutenant Dan and they knew my face from the movie. So when I started taking the band with me on these tours, I just said, let’s call it Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band. They’ll at least know that the guy played the character is coming to see him. And since then, we’ve played hundreds of concerts.”
Chris Pratt
“My brother didn’t join the army because he wanted to be Rambo. He joined because it was an opportunity for a hard nosed kid who couldn’t afford college, somebody who wanted to get the hell out of his small town and probably wanted his own clothes. We have the greatest armed forces the world has ever seen. It’s made up of real people who joined for myriad reasons. Brave men and women who sacrifice a whole hell of a lot. Today is their day. So celebrate a veteran today. Today I celebrate Cully, as well as my cousin Curtis, Uncle Steve, Uncle Skip, second Cousins, Joey, Ryan and Alex, besties Jared and Jeffrey, all those I’ve fished for hunted with, those who’ve blessed me with their challenge coins as I’ve encountered them on press junkets and in my travels, the many in the film industry working both in front of and behind the cameras. To those currently serving and those out thanks for your service. We appreciate you!”
Mark Wahlberg
“Today we honor all the brave men and women of our armed forces, past and present. Thank you for your service and sacrifice to protect our country. 🇺🇸 #VeteransDay (This photo was taken 6 years ago, on the set of Lone Survivor.)”
Today we honor all the brave men and women of our armed forces, past and present. Thank you for your service and sacrifice to protect our country. 🇺🇸 #VeteransDay (This photo was taken 6 years ago, on the set of Lone Survivor.) pic.twitter.com/aPGi6Sjjgd
— Mark Wahlberg (@markwahlberg) November 11, 2018
Denzel Washington
Esteemed in Hollywood for his career in acting and directing, Denzel Washington recently became the “Honorary Sergeant Major of the Army” for 2021.
“We all are free because of the sacrifices that you’ve made,” THE EQUALIZER actor said during the ceremony on Sept. 24. “We all have the right to agree or disagree or complain or whine or whatever else Americans do these days because of the sacrifices that each and every one of you men and women made. This really belongs to you.”
According to Take & Purpose, the Army made the formal announcement at the Annual Association of the U.S. Army conference on Nov. 1, and Sgt. Maj. Michael Grinston presented the award to Washington.
“When I looked at him, and when I looked at the role of the sergeant major of the Army, we want those that are humble because we serve the soldiers of the United States of America, and I represent all the soldiers in the Army,” Grinston said. “And when I talk to him, that’s what he represents … He just wants to do better for the Army.”
Trace Adkins
To all of our brave service men and women: this one's for you! Happy Veterans Day and thank you! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸https://t.co/biazb4fcWy
— Trace Adkins (@TraceAdkins) November 11, 2019
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
