Actor Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band are putting on a free concert in The Villages on Sunday night.
The event, which is being held thanks to Villagers for Veterans, will be at Lake Sumter Landing on a stage specially built for the famed “Forrest Gump” actor and his 13-piece band. The festivities will kick off at 3 p.m. and feature the popular Scooter the DJ, a Forrest Gump impersonator, food trucks and other attractions. There will be a special seating area for veterans and first responders and those attending are encouraged to come early and bring chairs.
Sinise and his band, named after the character he played in the 1994 hit movie alongside fellow award-winning actor Tom Hanks, will take the stage at 7 p.m. The band was founded in Chicago in 2004 by Sinise and Kimo Williams to entertain troops, perform at USO shows and raise money to help disabled veterans.
“We are so excited to have Gary and the Lt. Dan Band here in The Villages,” said Marie Bogdonoff, president of Villagers for Veterans. “We want veterans and first responders to be a big part of the event.”
The 64-year-old Sinise, also known for his roles in the 1995 movie “Apollo 13” and the hit television drama “CSI: New York,” first visited The Villages in February during a Villagers for Veterans-sponsored event at the Savannah Center. During that trip, he talked about his best-selling book, “Grateful American: A Journey From Self to Service.” Each member of the audience received a copy of the book, which details Sinise’s life story, from troubled kid to Hollywood star to activist for veterans.
For more information about the upcoming concert, visit Villagersforveterans.org or call Bogdonoff at (516) 220-5068.