You may know me from my roles in movies like Apollo 13 and The Green Mile or the CBS television series CSI NY— but it was in 1994 and playing the role of Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump that my life changed and inspired my enduring connection to our defenders, veterans, and first responders.
This year, I'm honored to again serve as an Honorary Grand Marshal for the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C.
The National Memorial Day Parade is an event like no other … and this year, as we mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, the American Veterans Center is bringing the Parade BACK in full force, with 5,000+ participants marching down Constitution Avenue before a crowd of 250,000+ in-person, as well as a T.V. broadcast that reaches 100 million households around the country.
The National Memorial Day Parade costs a fraction of other major public events to put on each year. In fact, the entire parade costs about as much as just THREE balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or TWO floats in the Rose Bowl Parade!
That means that every dollar that's contributed by a generous American like you makes a difference for this important event.
Your support of the American Veterans Center not only helps the Parade, but also supports great programs like:
- Recording hundreds of oral histories of veterans from World War II to today before we lose these stories forever.
- Holding our National Youth Summit which allows young students a chance to hear firsthand from veterans from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
- Producing veteran-focused T.V. documentaries and specials that remind Americans of the price of our freedom.
If you've been looking for an opportunity to give back to those who have given so much for our freedom, this is one of the best ways you could possibly do it.
And for a special group of veterans, this might be one of the last chances we get.
You see, with each year that goes by, we lose more and more of our World War II veterans, and for the few we have remaining, traveling to Washington, D.C. for the parade is difficult.
I am honored to say that we will have several World War II veterans with us for this year's parade... but I don't know how many more years we'll have that precious opportunity.
So this year, as we mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion and what might be the last chance these great men have to gather together, I encourage you to help us honor them while we still have them with us.
And no matter how much you can give to this important cause, I want to ask something additional of you.
On Memorial Day — this year and every year — please join me in honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.
Come to the National Memorial Day Parade in D.C. Visit a local veterans' cemetery. Send a note to a family of the fallen. Or simply take a quiet moment to think about the men and women who gave their lives to defend OUR country.
Send a note to a family of the fallen. Or simply take a quiet moment to think about the men and women who gave their lives to defend OUR country.
I believe that while we can never do enough to express our gratitude to our defenders, veterans, and first responders, we can always do a little more.
Posts
