National Memorial Day Concert
Credit: PBS
donors and is a $30M organization. “The
foundation has grown relatively rapidly
because of our successes,” Sinise reflects.
“The donors see the work on building specialty
designed homes for our wounded and all the
different programs that we’re involved in.
They’ve seen the people. They’ve gotten to
know the people who we’re helping. Now
we’re able to impact a lot more people.”
Clearly Sinise is a man constantly on the move,
with and beyond his work with his foundation,
but he constantly returns to Washington,
D.C. and will be in the nation’s capital again
on May 26 to co-host live the 30th Annual
National Memorial Day Concert at the Capitol
with friend and fellow award winning actor,
Joe Mantegna. That’s a gig they have shared
for more than a decade, and one of Sinise’s
favorites every year.
“In 2005 my buddy Joe contacted me and
invited me to become a part of a USO
segment on the Memorial Day Concert in
D.C.,” Sinise says with a chuckle. “I’d been
very, very busy with doing USO concerts and
events. We’d gotten my band ramped up
and really rocking in 2003, doing all kinds of
things for the troops. In 2005, we flew right
to Washington, D.C., after a seven-show USO
tour across Europe — it was something! We
were playing for decent-sized crowds for the
USO, and then there we were on stage at the
Capitol, in front of 200,000 people, with 10
million watching the show on television. That
was a very, very special and moving day.”
And thus a tradition was born, as Sinise and
Mantegna continue to play hosts. This year’s
show features performances by Patti LaBelle,
Alison Krauss, and Justin Moore, with Sam
Elliott and Jaina Lee Ortiz lending a helping
hand, too. Aired live from the West Lawn of
the Capitol on PBS beginning at 8 pm EST
on May 26, the concert also brings to the
stage the National Symphony Orchestra, the
U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Army
Chorus and Army Voices, the U.S. Navy Band
Sea Chanters, the U.S. Air Force Singing
Sergeants, the Soldiers’ Chorus of the United
States Army Field Band, as well as special
tributes to America’s fallen heroes.
“The show is a wonderful way to spend
Memorial Day, and a great show that furthers
this message that I’m delivering all the time,”
Sinise reflects, “the message of remembrance,
appreciation, and gratitude, as well as paying
tribute to the men and women who’ve served
our country, and their families.”
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 10 SUMMER 2019