Sinise’s dedication to supporting others has not gone unnoticed, and in recognition of his significant contributions to the military community, he was surprised with a heartfelt tribute from those he tirelessly worked to assist, along with some well-known figures.
In September 2019, the Gary Sinise Foundation shared a special video on its YouTube channel capturing Sinise’s unexpected reaction. As Sinise was prompted to sit down, he was presented with a laptop, and a video began to play. The tribute featured celebrities expressing gratitude, starting with comedian Jay Leno, followed by notable figures such as director Ron Howard, General Colin Powell, Robert DeNiro, Maria Shriver, Steve Buscemi, Joe Mantegna, Kristin Chenoweth, Mayim Bialik, and Sela Ward.
Military heroes, first responders, Medal of Honor recipients, Gold Star families, the USO, and their family members also joined in, collectively thanking Sinise for his unwavering commitment to humanitarian work and for being a “hero to the heroes of this country.” The video concluded with a message from Tom Hanks, exclaiming, “Thanks Lt. Dan!” – a reference to Sinise’s role in “Forrest Gump.”
Overwhelmed by the unexpected display of appreciation, Sinise, moved to tears, initially asked, “When did they do that?” He admitted to being “in shock” and, upon learning that he had profoundly impacted many lives, responded with gratitude, saying, “Thank you, everybody!”