Sinise: What Can I Do To Help?

CSI: New York star Gary Sinise (Mac Taylor) performed with his Lt Dan Band at a concert to benefit American troops on Saturday, July 18 at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois.

The concert was part of the daylong Rockin For the Troops event. Proceeds went to Operation Support Our Troops-Illinois, an organization that sends thousands of care packages to service members overseas each year. Sinise spends much of his free time visiting and performing for American troops. "I have veterans in my family and I have Vietnam veteran friends," the actor explained to the Daily Herald. "I have been involved with Vietnam veterans groups over the years, so when we started sending our troops post 9/11 to war zones to chase bad guys, I just wanted to do what I could to let them know they were supported."

"As a civilian, what can I do to help?" He continued. "Well, I have some celebrity and showing up on a USO tour to shake some hands and sign some autographs or play some music is one way I can help support them." Every time Sinise goes on tour, "I meet families or wounded soldiers or somebody who's been affected by something I've done. It's helped them and that helps me."

"I have met some great people in the military," he shared. "I have great respect for those people who choose to serve." The actor added, "There's a wide variety of people who join the military for a wide variety of reasons. It's a diverse group of people with a lot of different backgrounds. The more you spend time with military service members on bases all over the world, the more you'll appreciate just how good they are."

Travelling around the world reminds Sinise of CSI: NY's worldwide fan base. "I just got back a week ago from Korea and Okinawa where I did an eight-show USO tour and one of the things I noticed when I was at the hotel in Korea is that the show is very popular there. CSI: NY is very popular in Korea, Okinawa and Japan," he said. "People are really watching the show. It's popular around the world. It doesn't look like it's going to slow down. The ratings are good and we're looking forward to season six."

The original interview is from the Daily Herald.

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