#FlyWashington Magazine Summer 2019 | Page 12

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