JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A well-known actor from Hollywood arrived at the First Coast Friday night.
Gary Sinise played Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump" and he was nominated for an Academy Award for his role.
Sinise was also in "Apollo 13" and on TV as part of the cast of "C.S.I."
So why did he visit the First Coast? For a very important reason -- to honor the military.
Sinise and his band, The Lt. Dan Band, named after his character in “Forrest Gump,” threw a free concert at NAS Jax.
First Coast News spoke with the band during their sound check ahead of the show.
Sinise said he's been around the world to see countries that have no freedoms. He said it must be protected.
"I could be five feet away from a North Korean guard, and that person has no concept of what freedom is at all," Sinise told First Coast News. "He's there to serve at the pleasure of a dictator, and the people in the south have been free all those years because it was fought for and protected by the United States of America."
Sinise has a new book out called “Grateful American” and has a foundation that helps veterans.
One program they have is called Snowball Express. It's for children of fallen heroes and Gold Star families -- those who've lost a loved one in service to our country.
Sinise and his foundation also build homes for disabled veterans.