Today, Gary Sinise was right
here in Augusta to pay tribute to local soldiers. News 12 was there as the
actor visited at the V.A. hospital and met patients with the Wounded Warrior
Project.
Sinise says the visit
was all about expressing thanks. "It's a dangerous world out there and we
need our military. We need them to stay strong. This is a difficult time."
Outside of acting, Gary Sinise has made a name for himself by promoting various
humanitarian projects, especially for wounded veterans. His friend, a decorated
veteran who was injured in combat, told him about the Wounded Warriors Project,
he explains. "I've been meaning to get down here for a while."
"You cant help
everybody all at once or anything," Sinise adds. "But you can help a
few and you're gonna chip away and do some good. And that's what I'm trying to
do." Sinise met with all of the Wounded Warrior patients at the V.A.,
eating lunch with them and sharing stories of his own visits with soldiers
overseas.
Dr. Dennis Hollins is
the Medical Director of the V.A.'s active duty rehab program. He appreciated
Sinise's visit. "He could be anywhere right now. He could be on a tropical
beach feeling good about himself. But instead he chose to come here."
Thomas was in the Army
for three years before being injured in Afghanistan last December. He's now a
Wounded Warrior patient. "I didn't really know what to expect but he's a
real nice guy, real down to earth. Your average, every day guy," he says
of Sinise.
Hollins says more than
25,000 soldiers, like Thomas, have been injured in combat in Iraq and
Afghanistan Thomas says he will, fortunately, be out of a wheelchair in a few
months, thanks to his rehab. "For every soldier that we loose, three or
four more are wounded. And we just sort of get lost in the system." Sinise
adds, "It does help a little bit when people come to visit them. So if I
can do that as an entertainer, come in and show my support... I've seen it
helps a little bit just for them to know that people care."
They point out, as
deployments continue, so will injuries overseas... and rehabilitation back here
in Augusta. Thomas believes, "Programs like Wounded Warrior and people
like Gary Sinise really help bring a light to that, let the public know there
are still soldiers out there who are affected by the war and have a story to
tell and a life that they still have to carry on no matter what their wounds
are."
Of course the soldiers
couldn't help joking with each other, "Run, Forrest, Run!" as they
were working on their rehab today on treadmills. Sinise is also a musician. His
band is playing in Savannah this weekend, so he tells News 12 it was the
perfect opportunity to swing by Augusta.
Tonight, Sinise will
be sitting down for a special dinner. The Georgia 319th Transportation Company
Vietnam Veterans are having a special dinner to honor Wounded Warriors. It will
be at Richmond on Greene in downtown Augusta. The sold out-dinner starts at 7
p-m. Members of the 319th say they are honored to have Sinise join them for
dinner.
Carter Coyle
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