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In past discussions of potential IL senatorial candidates, I've read some acrimonious responses about how terrible it is that some have proposed -"celebrities" - like Coach Mike Ditka or Illinois native Gary Sinise as potentially great candidates. I too have usually been skeptical of celebrities wanting to turn politician (aside from Reagan). Yes Arnold is a phony, useless RINO. Yes, Ventura is a kook. However, many have jumped to conclusions about those posts suggesting that we "draft" actor Gary Sinise for the Republican nomination for the IL Senate seat in 2010 - for example. http://www.SiniseForSenate.com There is an ENORMOUS difference...

I have received a considerable number of responses to my "Draft" Mike Ditka for US Senate petition suggesting that Illinois' own Gary Sinise would be a great candidate for Senate. I cannot disagree. Mr. Sinise has demonstrated great leadership and altruism as a citizen. Therefore I have generated a petition to draft Mr. Sinise as well. Perhaps one of them will step up to the plate when the primary season comes around. It is never too early to get started on a grass roots campaign. There's an online petition to encourage or "draft" Mr. Sinise (a/k/a "Lt. Dan" from Forrest...

In this exclusive FOX News documentary, actor and activist Gary Sinise shares the "on the road" experiences he had last summer in Iraq while visiting American troops. Some 25 hours of his adventure was captured verite style with a handheld camera. Sinise does his best to meet his goal of what he says is "5000 handshakes, 2000 miles in seven days." The personal footage captures heartfelt meetings between Sinise and the troops in Kuwait and the Iraqi cities of Al Qaim, Al Asad, Ramadi and Baghdad.

"Draft" Gary Sinise for United States Senate (R-Illinois). Apparently "Lt. Dan" is from Illinois! There's a petition at the site to urge him to run in 2010.

Since war became a geographically distant but very real way of life after Sept. 11, 2001, no Hollywood star has stepped up to support active duty U.S. military personnel and wounded veterans like Gary Sinise. There is no close second. And quietly, as is in his nature, he is becoming something akin to this generation´s Bob Hope. One step in conferring this worthy title on the award-winning actor, director and producer occurred last week when President Bush bestowed on him the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian honor awarded to citizens for exemplary deeds performed in service of the...

Hollywood's conservative underground 'Friends of Abe' group meets quietly EXCLUSIVE: A group of politically conservative and centrist Hollywood figures organized by actor Gary Sinise and others has been meeting quietly in restaurants and private homes, forming a loose-knit network of entertainers who share common beliefs like supporting U.S. troops and traditional American values.

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2008 – Award-winning actor and part-time rocker Gary Sinise and the "Lt. Dan Band” jammed for a standing-room-only crowd in the courtyard of the Pentagon today. Hollywood actor and part-time rocker Gary Sinise performs at the 4th Annual America Supports You Military Tribute Concert as part of the Military Appreciation Month celebrations. Sinise and “The Lt. Dan Band” jammed for a standing-room-only crowd packed into the courtyard of the Pentagon. Defense Dept. photo by Fred W. Baker III  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “Rocking at the Pentagon,” Sinise exclaimed mid-set for a much-appreciative audience. The...

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2008 – Oscar-nominated actor and director Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band will perform a concert in the Pentagon Courtyard Friday, May 16 at noon as part of Military Appreciation Month. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. James Cartwright, and Department of Defense's 'America Supports You' program will be hosting the event. Military Appreciation Month is a nationwide observance honoring current and former members of the armed forces, including those who have died in service of our nation. Sinise is renowned for his role as Lt. Dan in the movie "Forrest Gump," and...

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2007 – Actor Gary Sinise received the G.I. Spirit Award yesterday during the first G.I. Film Festival, held over the Memorial Day weekend at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center here. Retired Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife Mary Jo Myers, presented Sinise with the award, which is meant to honor the entertainer who most embodies the spirit of the American G.I. and his work. Despite many other film and television roles, Sinise may still be best known as Lt. Dan, a turbulent, resilient...

USA GARY SINISE IRAQ-epa01015224 In this picture supplied by the USO, US actor Gary Sinise (R) listens to US Army CW 4 Leif Neely (L) of Woodbridge, Virginia, tell about how he was wounded while flying his Kiowa Warrior helicopter on a mission over Mosul, Iraq during a visit by Sinise to the hospital at Forward Operating Base Mazur, Iraq, 20 May 2007. Sinise, famous for his role as Lt. Dan in the movie Forrest Gump and currently starring in the TV series CSI:NY, is on a USO-sponsored meet-and-greet tour to boost morale among US forces in the area. EPA/MIKE...

The following are excerpts. Please click the links provided above and embedded below to read the entire articles. Jun 26, 2006 2:16 pm US/Eastern CSI's Gary Sinise: Support Our Military TroopsFor more information, log on to the website www.americasupportsyou.mil(CBS4 News) WASHINGTON CSI star Gary Sinise was at the White House Monday but he wasn’t solving crimes, he was supporting American troops. The actor was in our nation’s capitol to help President Bush spread the word about ‘America Supports You’, a Defense Department outreach program created to recognize citizens who support the military. Sinise, who co-founded the Iraqi Children Fund; an...

Naval Support Activity, Millington, Tenn. -- Actor, director and producer Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band will perform a concert for sailors at Naval Support Activity Mid-South, Millington, Tenn., June 2. Currently starring in the hit CBS series "CSI: New York," Sinise also is known to troops as Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump." This is the 19th USO tour for Sinise, who recently returned from a solo visit to the Persian Gulf. The concert is the second stop for Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band on a stateside tour of military bases. The first was Tinker Air Force Base,...

2/1/2006 - LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFPN) -- Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band received rave reviews from the more than 1,500 Luke Airmen who attended a free United Service Organizations concert Saturday night. Well known for his “Forrest Gump” character “Lt. Dan”, Gary Sinise and his band, the Lt. Dan Band, played a variety of music from classic rock to current popular tunes. "I was surprised they covered so many awesome songs," said Staff Sgt. David Velasquez, 56th Aerospace Medicine Squadron medical technician. This was the second tour at Luke for Mr. Sinise and the band. "Incredible...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2006 – Gary Sinise, star of the hit television show "CSI: NY," appeared on the Fox News Channel program Hannity and Colmes yesterday to discuss his continued support for American troops and his charity Operation Iraqi Children. Co-host Sean Hannity asked Sinise about his experience visiting wounded servicemembers recovering in the hospital. "I'm not a guy who has an easy time in hospitals, so I was a little fearful of what I would see there," Sinise said. "When you do go you completely forget about your own self, because that's not why you go. You're there for...

The American Film Renaissance www.afrfilmfestival.com the organization presenting patriotic and pro-America alternatives to typical movie fare, goes to the heart of the industry to host its first festival in Hollywood, Calif., next month. AFR was begun to encourage the production and promotion of more traditional-values oriented movies in the U.S. Gary Sinise (CSI: NY, Forrest Gump) and Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond)are some of the celebrities who have committed to attend . . . . .

KFI STREAMING Capt. Dale Dye welcomes actor Gary Sinise to his show on KFI 640 in Los Angeles at 6pm Pacific. Hollywood is filled with jerks. Gary is one of the really great guys. If you have not seen the work he is doing for Iraqi children, check out his website-- OPERATION IRAQI CHILDREN

NEW YORK - Gary Sinise will serve as the national spokesman for the Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial Foundation. The actor, who played Vietnam vet "Lt. Dan" Taylor in "Forrest Gump," agreed to the spokesman position, it was announced Friday. The foundation is working to build a disabled veterans memorial in Washington D.C. near the Capitol. "I am deeply moved to have been asked to participate in this absolutely necessary memorial," Sinise said in a statement. "I can only hope that my participation will help draw attention to the cause and ensure its successful fruition as the nation's first and...

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5, 2005 – Each week the cast of "CSI: NY" uses scientific skill to solve mysteries. But the reason Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld visited the show's set in Studio City here Aug. 4 was no mystery: actor Gary Sinise is a solid supporter of U.S. servicemembers, and Rumsfeld's a big fan of Sinise and his efforts. Rumsfeld visited the CSI set to thank Sinise personally for his support of the "America Supports You" program through his "Operation Iraqi Children" effort. Sinise, who stars in "CSI: NY" as Detective Mac Taylor, co-founded Operation Iraqi Children with Seabiscuit...

WASHINGTON, July 4, 2005 – Actor Gary Sinise has been a busy man over the past few years, and not just with acting gigs. Sinise has set a blistering pace in another venture: supporting American servicemembers. One way he has contributed to this effort is through his nonprofit organization "Operation Iraqi Children," which he co-founded with "Seabiscuit" author Laura Hillenbrand in March 2004. The organization collects and ships school supplies and toys to Iraq, which are then distributed to the children by American servicemembers. Sinise said this project not only helps the Iraqi children with needed materials, it boosts the...