Gary Sinise Supports Veterans Through Play ‘Last Out’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Gary Sinise might be best known for his role as Lieutenant Dan in FOREST GUMP, but he has made it his mission to support our veterans, a legacy he recently continued by supporting the play “Last Out.”
Even before playing Lieutenant Dan, Sinise had a heart for veterans. In the early ’80s, he directed a play called “Tracers,” which was written and performed by Vietnam veterans and portrayed the experience of fighting in that war.
“It was a personal mission for me to bring a great production to the public so that these warriors would know that their service to our country was appreciated and that their sacrifices would never be forgotten,” he explained.
His gratitude for veterans multiplied during FOREST GUMP. For his role, he received an award from the Disabled American Veterans organization for his unflinching portrayal of the experience of an injured soldier returning home.
“Lieutenant Dan has somehow become more than just a character in a movie,” he said. “To these veterans he has become a symbol of our country’s collective awareness or all our injured veterans, especially the Vietnam veteran.”
In 2011, Sinise founded the Gary Sinise Foundation, which supports hundreds of injured veterans annually. Through this organization, Sinise has continued to show his gratitude for those who sacrificed so much for our country’s freedom.
One of the foundation’s major impacts this year is its support of the play “Last Out,” which has given a voice to a new generation of veterans.
“Written by Scott Mann, an Afghanistan and Iraq veteran, who retired as a Green Beret lieutenant colonel, [‘Last Out’ seemed like] it was very much like a post 9/11 ‘Tracers.’” Sinise said. “I had heard about it but not seen it, and when I watched a video of the play it was clear that this play spoke to a new generation of veterans the way ‘Tracers’ had for our Vietnam veterans.”
“When we tell our stories, we can heal. When our stories are heard, we feel understood and validated. The 20-year war in Afghanistan and how the United States withdrew from the fight left those who served in the conflict feeling betrayed and humiliated,” the “Last Out” play’s website read.
“Throughout history, societies have used storytelling to help warriors integrate back into society, and ‘Last Out’ follows in that tradition,” the website continued. “The mission of this production is to validate the journey of our military veterans and their families while building genuine and well-informed understanding in the communities where they live.”
With Sinise’s support, the play was performed in nine cities this year, providing healing for many veterans who have been involved in the show.
“Mental wellness is a major priority for the Gary Sinise Foundation. We want to see every veteran live the Lt. Dan story, where they put their war years behind them and move on to a future of hope, love and success,” Sinise said. “We don’t want veterans to feel isolated and to contain all the pent-up feelings to the point where everything explodes. Too many of today’s veterans come home feeling alone as they struggle with the invisible wounds of war.”
Movieguide® previously reported on “Last Out:”
The Gary Sinise Foundation is helping veterans heal by supporting a play called LAST OUT: ELEGY OF A GREEN BERET. Written by Scott Mann, a special forces veteran, the play depicts his military experiences.
Scott Mann spent 23 years in the army, spending most of his time with the special forces. When he returned home, he struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts.
His lowest point came when he brought a pistol into his bedroom closet, intending to shoot himself. The thought of his son coming home from school to find his body was the only thing that kept him from ending his life.
“When I came out of that dark period of my mental health, I was fortunate enough to have a civilian mentor who was a storyteller,” Mann told NBC News. “He showed me how to use storytelling as a way to heal myself.” For part of his therapy, Mann was encouraged to turn his story in the special forces into a play.
With the help of the Gary Sinise Foundation, Mann was able to turn his play into a full-blown production. The production veterans and their family members understand and heal from their time in the military.
- Content: +4Share:
- Content: +3