Wings Over Wendy’s group of veteran aviators (WOW) will honor actor Gary Sinise and his late son at their September 26 awards luncheon.
Sinise became involved in veterans’ advocacy after his role as Lt. Dan in the movie Forrest Gump, and after 9/11 began devoting more time to support the men and women who were deploying in response to those acts.
His own grandfather served during the First World War as an ambulance driver, while two of his uncles were sent overseas during World War II. One was based in the Pacific with the US Navy, while another served as a navigator aboard a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe. His father, a sailor in the Navy, was also deployed to Korea. Sinise’s brothers-in-law also served. They were sent to Asia during the Vietnam War.
Sinise founded the Lt. Dan Band to perform at USO shows, entertain troops, and raise money for disabled veterans. His Gary Sinise Foundation was initially founded in Woodland Hills. Its mission is to honor our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.
Sinise is a big supporter of Wings Over Wendy’s, and is sponsoring the awards luncheon, where WOW is honoring him and his late son Mac, a musician who played with the Lt. Dan Band but died of chordoma cancer in January.
Also honored at the luncheon will be veterans Ethel Margolin, age 102, Oscar Stein, age 101 and Bill Dillon, age 100, and those veterans who “flew west” and passed in 2024.
Guest speaker will be Daily News columnist Dennis McCarthy.
The luncheon will be held at Woodland Hills Country Club, 21150 Dumetz Road. Tickets are $35 per person. RSVP to Maria Rodriguez at (818) 884-1220 or maluvsart@gmail.com.
