Transcripts For CSPAN3 Actor Gary Sinise At The National Press Club 20240622

An alternate they are foye pair with their cessation of opiates. I would like you to respond to something that weve heard the secretary say and read about in the press that he has 28,000 positions to fill in the vha. Its something it was reiterated in the hearing here. Then when the Ranking Member and i and some other members of congress in the senate were in your command and control center on the eighth floor a few weeks back, weve heard that number was not 28,000, that it was 50,000 positions to be filled at the vha. Could you confirm that number and could you tell me how youre prioritizing those hires . And obviously im getting to if we have a crisis in Mental Health and were treating all hires the same, we have a problem. If youre prioritizing Mental Health, heres a chance to tell this committee and the public at large. So i did not hear the number 50,000. Ill have to check on that and get back to you drekly. I think that would probably be the easiest way to say that. With 300,000 employees, sorting out normal turnover, which is somewhere around 7 or 8 across all disciplines from what were areas where were trying to fill is a little bit challenging. We have identified five areas that are the highest priority. Physician, nurse, Mental Health professionaling, physician assistants and im blocking on the fifth one. But Mental Health professionals is clearly on that list. And, in fact, we have been way ahead of the curve compared to the rest of the country in terms of hiring Mental Health professionals from multiple disciplines. That i work as tales. We have them in primary care as well as working in Mental Health clinics and so forth. Trying to do everything to make it almost impossible to seek assistance and get it. If you actually go get care from one of our facilities we have a long way to go. I was simply commenting on the overall pipeline problem. The other area with we are beginning where we do a lot now but i think could do much more is in teleMental Health. So bring spring texas, which isnt that far from you in texas terms the, you know, they tried very, very hard to recruit psychiatrists and had a problem. And they recently recruited one from wisconsin who is not moving. That individual is providing all virtual care. So were working with them to try to figure out how to make that business process work as smoothly as possible. Many veterans prefer that. They find it a bit less confrontational. And i appreciate that and as i yield my time ill just conclude, you have asked for an additional briefing or hearing to follow up. I hope when you come back you come back with a plan for el paso or any Underserved Community. And you say you know what . Were paying psychiatrists and psychologists and therapists and counsellors and social workers x, im going to play them x plus 20 to get them to el paso or that Underserved Community and to retain them once theyre there because you have a huge problem with retention as well. Or some and thats a suggestion. Or some other plan that really treat this is as the crisis that it is versus the you know, were making this a priority, were going to do this, that and the other. I need dollars on the table, specific offers, deals that will get that psychiatrist or Mental Health professional there in the first place and then keep them thereafter. So i hope to hear specifics next time. So appreciate your answers to our questions today and mr. Chairman and Ranking Member thank you for holding this hearing. Really important. Thanks. Ranking member s cakuster. Thank you. I want to say that we will do a follow up not only on the types of Pain Management and techniques that do seem to be working but in particular id like to include teleMental Health and even do a short demonstration but maybe that is an alternative in this crisis situation that you have. I want to make sure we stay on top of this so that our colleague is we can get served. Thank you. Thank you, Ranking Member kuster. Our thanks to the witnesses. Today we have had a chance to hear about the problems that exist within the department of veterans affairs. With regard to prescription management and veteran suicides. This hearing was necessary to accomplish a number of items to demonstrate the lack of fair and follow up for veterans, prescribed medications for mental disorders, to demonstrate the inaccuracies and discrepancies in the data checked by v. A. Regarding veteran suicides and those diagnosed with mental disorders and, three, to allow v. A. To inform this subcommittee what it plans to do to improve these glaring deficiencies in order to ensure veterans are receiving the care they deserve. I ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials. Without objection, so ordered. I would like to once again thank all of our witnesses and audience members for joining in todays conversation. With that, this hearing is adjourned. Ma fuch chi. Tonight on American History tv, programs about the presidency of richard nixon. Coming up at 8 00, Richard Nixons Foreign Policy with former members of president nixons National Security Council Staff about vietnam, the paris peace accords and relations with china. At 9 50 prime minister, president nixon and the Supreme Court. With a lecture in the Supreme Court chamber by kevin mcman, author of nixons court, his challenge to judicial liberalism and its political consequences. Hes introduced by justice antonin scalia. At 10 35 p. M. , author richard hunt on melvin lairds time as president nixons defense secretary during the last years of the vietnam war and his strategy to possession the military for the future. Mr. Hunt wrote melvin laird and the foundation of the postvietnam military, 19691973. Saturday, august 29 marks the 10th anniversary of hurricane sandy, ohu hurricane katrina, one of the five deadliest storms in u. S. History. Tonight, the 2006 tour of hurricane damage and recovery efforts. At 9 30, a 2005 house hearing featuring new orleans citizens describing their experiences during and after the storm. They told us that they would take us to shelters where we could get help and get the seniors to help. And they loaded us up on these military trucks then they declared the city of new orleans, Orleans Parish and Jefferson Parish a war zone and it still didnt sink in that we were the prisoners of war. On wednesday at 8 00, cspans 2006 tour of hurricane damage and recovery at st. Bernard parish in louisiana. You cant describe it. Its your whole life gone completely. You have nothing but cement left and rubble. Not only your house, but your whole community. All your friends, your family, everybodys gone. Now its going to be a year later and you still your family and friends you dont see any more that you used to see. Hell of a feeling. You dont forget it. Youll never forget it the rest of your life. Followed at 9 00 with a 2005 town hall meeting in new orleans moderated by then mayor ray nagin. Im relying on you. I know all this is state level, federal level and all other levels. I dont have them. I voted for you to represent me on the local level. I dont know where else to go. I dont know what else to do. Thursday night starting at 8 00, there are the atlantic conversation in new orleans with femas craig fugate and New York Times executive editor dean mckay and family. And well show you president obamas trip to the region as well as remarks on the recovery effort ten years after katrina. Hurricane katrina anniversary coverage all this week on cspan. Actor gary sinise talks about his efforts to help american war veterans, an issue he first became involved with in the 1980s, including plans to build a medal of honor museum in mount pleasant, south carolina. Mr. Sinise is a board member of the project. The National Press club hosted this event earlier this summer. [ applause ] thank you. [ applause ] thank you. Thank you very much. Its good to be back. I do want to say something. Last time i was hear there was a big sort of wooden medallion here on the back and about halfway through my speech it fell down. [ laughter ] so im glad its not here. Id like to thank the members of the National Press club. John, thank you very much for the invitation to speak today. Its a great honor for me to return to speak since first having had the opportunity in 2007 as National Spokesperson for the American Veterans disabled for life memorial which, after a 16year effort was finally dedicated and open theed opened to the public on october 5 last year. The second time in addressing the press club was in support of the documentary film brothers at war. And the third time, as john said, four years ago, when we first launched the Gary Sinise Foundation. So i guess i havent burned any bridges at the press club yet, you keep asking me back. Thank you. Id like to speak a little today about how far the Gary Sinise Foundation has come in those four years the work the foundation is doing and what the future looks like as we continue to grow and id like to emphasize how important it is to have nonprofits in the military support space as our military servicemen and women continue to confront the dark forces of this world on many fronts with long and very tough deployments. But first id like to acknowledge a few people here today. One of our board member, bob pence. Thank you for coming, bob, i appreciate you being here, sir. [ applause ] i have a very distinguished guest here that john introduced. A friend of mine who is here with us today. General james e. Livingston was awarded the United States highest military decoration, the medal of honor for heroic actions in 1968 during the vietnam war. On that fateful day captain livingston and about 800 fellow marines ran up against a north Vietnamese Company of 10,000 strong enemy combatants. 10,000. Against 800 marines. What captain livingston says was a fair fight. [ laughter ] during the ensuing fight, captain livingston was wounded three times through heavy fire about, despite his wounds, he coordinated attacks to destroy over 100 mutually supporting enemy bunkers. Propel add savage enemy counterattack and refused to be evacuated from the field until he was assured of the safety of his men and hi would serve two combat tours in vietnam. He was presented the medal of honor of may 14, 1970 by president richard nixon. Rising in the ranks he retired from the marine corps as major general. General livingstons philosophy on leadership is to lead from the front. He said if i am willing to do it then i can ask you to do it. He never had a marine under his command come up and say to him i dont want to do this. Following his example, they all did their job and whatever he asked of them and performed superbly. That is true and inspiring leadership. So general livingston, thank you for being here. [ applause ] we are truly grateful for everything youve given in service to our nation. We have several veterans here today so i want to say thank you to all of our veterans for being here and thank you for stepping forward to serve our country. It has been said that the United States of america will always be the land of the free as long as it is the home of the brave. The veterans that are here today have ensured that we live a free country because they were willing to take the fight to the enemy and keep the enemy from coming to our shores. A community, a city, a country can only fourish if the people have peace to ensure their lives. In doing so, they have their communities flourish with commerce and trade and create an environment where each childs dream has the hope to be realized. We have seen a nation born of these ideals and from generations to generation its shown itself to be the greatest strongest, and most prosperous nation on earth. The envy of the world. Today we have an allvolunteer force that wears the uniform and our collective home, the United States of america, is kept safe by the men and women of the United States military willing to serve and sacrifice so much of our way of life is secure. And with these sacrifices being made each and everyday there comes much need. Thats why today more than ever its so important to have successful nonprofits in the military support space. As government alone cannot possibly fill all of the needs. Over the years there have been so many experiences that have led to me toll raise that we must be there for our men and women in uniform to make sure they are taken care of before, during, and after the battle. After the tragic events of september 11, 2001, wanting to do something to support those who were going into harms way in response to those attacks i began to volunteer for the uso, going on hand shake tours and entertainment tours with my band to let our military know that they were appreciated, that we were thinking of them and that their service and sacrifice did not go unnoticed. During the thanksgiving holiday in 2009, i was visiting Bagram Air Force base in afghanistan and general mike scaparotti, director of operations for the United States Central Command providing oversight to all military operations throughout the centcom area of responsibility including iraq and afghanistan, he came to me and he informed me that will you be there there would be an angel flight early the following morning for a fallen spesh foci forces soldier who can be killed in action. The general invited me to the ramp ceremony where they would load the casket on to a plane to repatriate his remains back to america. What my eyes saw and what my heart felt that day as always stayed with me. I watched hundreds of american servicemen and women from all branches, most of them, including myself, never knew this soldier personally. But they gathered in formation in his honor to pay their respects and offer a farewell stlut salute to a brave fellow american soldier. The mood was somber. The casket draped with an American Flag was carried by eight members of his unit moving slowly and solemnly on the plane as the formation was commanded to give their final salute to an american who gave his last full measure and devotion for his country. Indeed, a sight to be hold. Members of his unit who the day before were fighting by his side placed his casket on the bed of the c17, kneeled down around it and offered their final prayers and fair wells to their brother. Then the rest of the formation followed suit, rank by rank, traveling up the ramp of the c17 to pay their respects. It was my sobering honor to be by general scaparottis side as we entered the plane and knelt down beside the casket. I was flooded with emotion for this young man and his family, the painful and sobering reminder of the cost of freedom. So in looking back on my own journey working with veterans groups in the chicago area inform n the 80s, supporting our wounded through the disabled American Veterans association in the 90s and post9 11 as i began to understand the full weight that our servicemen and women carry with them into battle and often times bring them home with them from long deployments i began supporting many military charities and participating in as many support concerts and fundraising events as i could to raise awareness, spirits and support them. In 2011, i brought all my endeavors together to serve our veterans under one umbrella launching the Gary Sinise Foundation. In just four years with the generosity and support of the American People, we have been able to start numerous programs to help make an important difference in the lives of our service members, from building specially adapted custom smart homes, providing adapted vehicles and mobility devices for our most severely wounded veterans through our rise program restoring independence, supporting empowerment to putting on as john Said Lieutenant dan band resiliency concerts at military hospitals to boost morale. To raising the spirits of the children of our fallen heroes, providing emergency funding for needy military families, supporting First Responders and communities around the country. Each day we are helping our veterans, military families and First Responders find the strength and support they need to move forward in their lives and we are impacting the communities that they live in. As john said, when i last spoke here in june of 2011 id been part of Fundraising Efforts to build three smart homes at that time. For some of the most catastrophically Wounded Service members, three of our quadruple amputees would return from iraq and afghanistan. Im proud to say that now of the five quadruple amputees from these wars four are living in new homes and a home is in progress for the fifth. By the end of 2015, the Gary Sinise Foundation will have participated in the development or construction of up to 35 homes for those suffering very serious life changing injuries. And these homes give our wounded heroes their families, their caregivers their freedom and independence back. Im proud to say that friert creation of tye creation, the Lieutenant Dan band has given 300 concerts. 140 concerts for the uso and 178 fundraising and benefit concerts. We just performed at the hotel dell in coronado on sunday night for a big veterans support concert. The band is part of our nonprofit and is now a program of the foundation and through our invincible spirit festivals which we put on at our nations military medical centers, complete with a live Lieutenant Dan band concert and a delicious cookout donated by celebrity chef Robert Irvine and the folks at the Great Food Company cisco, we have lifted over 50,000 spirits of our heroes, their families, their caregivers and hospital staff giving them a respite from the rigors of their medical treatment and reminding them of the hope and positivity along the road to recovery. Through our serving heroes program, we have shown gratitude to our nations defenders bym p serving them a hearty classic american meal. To date weve served over 27,700 meals to five major travel hubs across the nation where our deploying troops go through and were looking to expand our efforts to include other venues at other airports throughout the country. Our gary sinise relief and Resiliency Program has helped veterans and their families through their times of urgent need. 162 children and family members of the fallen. 156 veterans, 94 wounded. With First Responders outreach, Gary Sinise Foundation has trained 45 firefighters in black forest, colorado, after the devastating fires there, supported the families of the hot shots in prescott, arizona, after 19 firefighters were lost in a deadly firestorm. Donated two Lieutenant Dan vans for the fdny Fire Family Transport Foundation to transport ill and injured members of the fdny and their families to medical facilities and weve awarded six grants to police, fire, and ems services. Other programs include our arts and entertainment outreach, taking veterans to theater around the country, for a free male and performance. And as part of our Educational Outreach we have a new world war ii program, a most recent partnership with the National World War Ii Museum in new orleans. Gary Sinise Foundation has helped finance a historian who who has to date recorded 35 world war ii veterans stories, oral histories preserved on video in the museum archive, preserving americas history and their legacy. We will also include a trip next week for 50 world war ii veterans from california to see this magnificent museum built in their honor. So weve come a long way in four short years and we are impacting the lives of our veterans and active duty across the nation. Its truly the most Rewarding Mission ive had in my life to serve the members of our military. One of the hardest things to come to terms with when you endeavor to a life of service is the enormity of the need that exists today. It has to be upon us and our communities to close the gap and meet that need. With all the bureaucracy, inefficients and the difficult challenges currently being reported within the v. A. , its important that there are successful nonprofits in the military support space and that we engage, encourage, and inspire as many communities within this country as possible to address the needs of local veterans so aapplaud all the military nonprofits here today doing the good work. During the conflicts in afghanistan and iraq we have seen remarkable advances in field med sun and care. While this may have reduced the number of casualties, many more have returned home injured or seriously wounded. We have now been at war for the past 14 years. Roughly 50,000 military personnel currently live among us bearing the severe wounds of war both physically and mentally. Their struggle cans affect the entire household and on going treatment can quickly become ruin o ruin owsley expensive. We have become aware of the shortfalls these men and women face. With the media, they have provided by troubling glimpses of the healthrelated complications that veterans experience in seeking care, the Bigger Picture is alarming. Survey data suggests 71 of americans do not understand what combat veterans endure and 84 of veterans polled said the public has little awareness of the challenges they face in life after combat. This suggests an urgent need to supplement existing support and raise public consciousness on a grassroots level. Emotional trauma is at epidemic proportions. In 2002 to 2012, 103,972 cases of posttraumatic stress disorder were recoported. According to a report from the department of veterans affairs, an average of 22 American Veterans continue to take their lives everyday. Physical injuries often compound the emotional damage. In the same 20022012 time span, 1,715 battle injury amputations were performed. Beyond the personal struggles, loss of limb and or physical disfiguration places tremendous stress on veterans families, loved ones often must take on the role of caregivers and po posttraumatic stress can affect the entire family. For our wounded maintaining access to Ongoing Health support systems is a daunting task. Reentering society and finding employment is especially difficult. More than half of all veterans r feeling disconnected from their communities. Their sense of disconnect is a solvable problem. Willingness to help and raising awareness will help where help is needed within individual communities are important first steps, local citizens in every Community Need to connect with these veterans and their families to provide support however possible. As citizens who benefit from what they do for us, it is our duty very simply if every neighborhood in every community in every town and city and every state sought out their local veterans and offered their hand we would greatly reduce the problem and most likely have the problem solved. It is a dangerous and unpredi unpredictable world. We need to keep our military strong and ready to face the evils of this world that would seek to destroy our way of life. They are our freedom providers. They and their families need our help. As we all know, we all too often take our freedom for granted. I recently returned from my third trip to korea performing for our troops and a thirty visit to the dmz a strange, very strange, and sad place. This time while there something happened that did not happen in my previous trips. As we came out of the building and approached the borderline, two north korean guards came right up to the borders edge to take pictures of our group. I was two feet away and could look directly into the eyes of these guards. Haunting and very sad eyes. They know nothing but worship of the Supreme Leader and are slaves to their master. Perhaps there is no place on earth where one can feel a palpable difference between freedom and slavery more than standing on the border between north korea and south korea. The North Koreans know nothing, nothing, of freedom. For three generations they have been oppressed by a dictatorship, indoctrinated by a regime that has enslaved them and sealed them off from the rest of the world. The North Koreans have a military that is there to suppress them and take their freedoms away. But with the United States by their side, like all of us here in the u. S. , the South Koreans have a militariey thats very purpose is to provide life, liberty and the ability for every man, woman and child to pursue their happiness. Education is the key to making sure our generation and future generations know the high cost of freedom and what our military men and women sacrifice to endure and endured in providing it as it is precious and we must never take it for granted. Not everyone in this world gets to live like we do. Is there any doubt there are evil forces in this world that given the opportunity would do anything in their power to destroy what we as americans and all western nations have grown so accustomed to . Freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness like our brave heroes of world war ii, when there were only two possible outcomes in the world at that time tyranny or freedom our defenders today stand as guardians of another evil that enslaves and oppresses women children, beheads christians and punishes anyone who does not submit to their twisted view of the world. On october 22, 1962, addressing the Nuclear Threat posed by the soviet union and the u. S. Response to missile in cuba, president john f. Kennedy said the path we have chosen for the president is full of hazards, as all paths are. But it is the one most consistent with our character and courage adds a nation in our commitments around the world. The cost of freedom is always high and americans have always paid it. And one path that we shall never choose is the path of surrender or submission. Today we face many threats to peace and security of the world indeed full of hazards of the present. And we are thankful to have american men and women who are willing to do the dangerous work necessary to ensure that we remain free and secure. Still, with a disconnect between the average american and its military, i believe education educating our citizens and our youth as to what our military men and women endure in combat away from their family and friends is in order to that we understand why it is critically important to support them and take care of them. This is why i want to talk to you today about the importance of the medal of honor museum, the effort to build a National Museum in mount pleasant, south carolina. Now, in retirement, general livingston is a very busy man. Among other thing, he is a had been of the board of directors of the medal of honor museum foundation. In addition, he along with seven of other medal of honor recipients comprise the Steering Committee which will review all exhibits and programs to ensure they are consistent with the mugs of the congressional medal of honor soed. The society is the brotherhood of the 79 living medal of honor recipients. Education can come in many forms. One way is through memorials and museums where the stories of those who serve have had a permanent place to have their voices heard. Since the first medal of honor was awarded by president Abraham Lincoln on march 25, 1863, more than 25 million men and women have served during our nations conflicts. Fewer than 3,500 of them, less than. 2 , have received the medal of honor. Those who wear the medal represent americas bravest and best. Whul have served and sacrificed in defense of our nation. Their stories offer lessons for us all in how to live our lives with honor, integrity, and character. My own history with the medal of Honor Society and Foundation Goes back to 2007. Ive been humbled and blessed to serve on the foundations president S Advisory Group and now through the invitation of general livingston on the board of directors as a National Spokesperson for the medal of honor museumer. Its been my privilege and honor to know many of the recipients of the medal of honor personally and to hear their stories. To be among americas bravest and listen to them and interact with them has been a blessing and true education. They have shown me quiet strength and modesty and they all say that they wear the medal of honor not for themselves but for all those who fought so bravely alongside them and did not make it home. That we would remember them in their sacrifice. More than 18 , 646 of the medals awarded since 1863, have been presented posthumously. But from the civil war until world war ii, of the 2,418 medals awarded, just 3 , 83, were presented posthumously. From world war ii to the president , however, more than 60 of metals have been awarded posthumously. 58 in world war ii, 37. 8 in the korean war, 62. 9 in the vietnam war and 43. 7 in the wars in iraq and afghanistan. The department has reviewed records of a number of potential medal of honor recipients who have been passed over because of their race, religion or ethnicity. As a result of these review, a number of africanamerican, hispanic, japanese and have rec overdue recognition. Medal of honor recipients hail from every walk and every station in life. They reflect the ethnic, cultural, economic, religious and educational diversity that is a hallmark of the american experience. All 50 states, the district of columbia, puerto rico, guam and more than half a dozen nations are represented. More than 20 of recipients were born outside of the United States. There are 79 living recipients. Fewer than at any time since the civil war when the medal was first awarded. A world war ii veteran is 94. The youngest, a veteran of the war in afghanistan is 25. And their average age is 71 years old. The medal of honor is the nations highest award for valor and combat. Its the only military medal worn around the neck. Recipients are the only individual who the president salutes as a matter of custom. It is awarded by the president in the name of congress to a member of the armed forces who distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and int interpidty. While engaged in action against the United States. So the medal of honor museum is in the works. Why . To preserve the stories of the medal of honor recipients presenting them to new generations sorely in need of true heroes to look up to and emulate. To help visitors understand what it means to preserve service above self and the meaning and the price of freedom. The future site of the museum is located at patriots point in mt. Pleasant, south carolina. On the Eastern Shore of charleston harbor, directly across from the uss yorktown. Throughout the museum, visitors will have opportunity to learn from the recipients through films, videos and dynamic elements and indepth explorations of personal stories and experiences that will honor and promote the ideals and values associated with the medal. Two galleries will be dedicated to the citizens honors programs to educate our americas youth and citizenry. As one teacher recently commented on the Character Development program saying our children want to change the world on so many levels. The medal of honor curriculum offers them the tools and opportunity to do just that. Now and in the future. Again, education is the key to helping the youth of america understand and be inspired by the valor and selfless acts of courage that those who earn the medal have so valiantly portrayed in the most harrowing of circumstances. Im honored to serve on the board of directors. And as National Spokesperson for this worthy and important project, and encourage you to seek out more information by going to the medal of honor Museum Website mohmuseum. Org. And for the foundations efforts, you can learn more about the foundation. James mentioner in the book the bridges of tokyo ray writes about the korean conflict. And in the books final scene, an admiral stands on the darkened waiting for pilots he knows will never return from their mission. As he waits, he asks in the silent darkness where did we get such men . Today, as i stand in the presence of general livingston and all our veterans here today, i ask, again, where did we find such men and women who are willing to go into harms way to keep us free . The answer is very simple. We find them where weve always found them. In our villages and towns, on our city streets and in our shops and on our farms. Americas families defend us all. One generation fighting for americas future, one generation inspiring the next, so that, again, a Young American would rise out of the communities that would dare to stand and face those that would do us harm and say boldly and with conviction, not on my watch. And to those who stand guard deserving to know there is a grateful nation standing behind them and who may from time to time question whether their service will go unnoticed or who would ask, would our sacrifices, the sacrifices of our fallen, our wounded, our military families be forgotten . I say and encourage all of our fellow americans to say. Not on my watch. Thank you. Ptsd awareness out of world war ii and korea. And separating troop support from war support. What do you think we should learn from the veterans of the war in iraq and afghanistan . Theres much to learn, thankfully, and i will say this. I have Vietnam Veterans in my family, im very motivated by what i learned from the Vietnam Veterans in my family years ago back in the late 70s and early 80s. And trying to ensure they have the services they need. From the shocking reality at the shameful way they were treated when they came home from war and the services they needed they dnts get. Theres a major epidemic of those suffering from post traumatic stress. Also within the military nonprofit support space. I think part of my feeling about this is that with the thousand of military charities there are out there. Like service dogs, for example. Who thankfully, there are those military nonprofits. We all know the challenges that the v. A. Has. Wonderful people working in the v. A. , but its a challenging environment for our veterans. Theyre trying to address needs on multiple fronts. The organization is here today, thankfully, there are services out there being provided and i encourage anyone who is seeking service or help from the iraq and Afghanistan Community to continue passing on the information of where the services are provided. Theres a lot to learn from those who are serving now. We can never do enough for those serving our nation. With nearly a decade of war winding down, how do you see the mission of your Foundation Changing as fewer and fewer combat veterans come out of the armed forces do you worry its going to become more difficult to get the American People and the political system to properly serve veterans . It is more difficult. Theyre off the front pages, but the residual effects of these wars will last for decades. We still have challenging environments within the veteran community from all wars, dont we. Ive never been to combat and many of our veterans have. Never leaves you. Never goes away. The more we can keep people aware of whats happening within our military community, the more services will continue to be provided. Is that, as i said, the residual effects of these wars will last for decades, and we need these services to be provided continually. Thats where somebody like me can come in and be useful. I can talk at the press club and get a public platform around the country to try to keep the awareness up. And help as many military charities as i possibly can because of the need is enormous. There are lots of unmet needs out there. And we will continue to face these challenges. So keeping awareness up is important, its primary. Thank you for having me today. To be able to keep awareness up and to talk to members of the press club about this. What you can do is help, you know, keep this in the consciousness of the American People. Were tired of war. Our military continues to search. They continue to have challenges. Our military hospitals continue to serve those who have been injured years ago. I mean, people who have been going through rehabilitation for years and will continue to do that. Were going to at the hospital every single day. Thank you for being here today. We can never do enough for you and what youve done. For those not familiar with the story, please tell why you took on the leadership of this noble cause. But to broaden that out a little bit, you talked about after 9 11 getting involved, was it really after 9 11 that it stepped up . Or did you really have this passion even years before and growing up . Talk about your enevolution to where you are today as such a devoted servant to this effort. Yeah. As i said, it begins with the family members. It begins with the family members on my side of the family, world war i veteran, my grandfather served driving an ambulance in france on the front line in france. Two uncles in world war ii. My dad served in the navy on my wifes side of the family. Her brothers served in vietnam. Its really that opened my eyes in the late 70s and early 80s. By the time i was old enough to absorb things, as a young teenager, the family members on my side of the family, they were well beyond their service. So i dont remember my grandfather ever talking about world war i. I dont remember my uncle talking about world war ii until i started this work. And i would take him and get him talking. And he, as a matter of fact, he would spend memorial day at the concert every year. He, unfortunately, passed away at 90 years old this past october as did my brotherinlaw who was a combat medic in vietn vietnam. Learned so much from him, from the veterans. My wifes two brothers. They got me thinking. And i got involved with Vietnam Veterans groups back in the 80s and the chicago area supporting them. So ten years later, i had an opportunity to audition to play a vietnam veteran. Forrest gump. I wanted to do that being involved in the chicago area. Luckily, i got the part. As i said, that relationship goes back 20 years. And then after september 11th when we were attacked, felt, this was this is where i could employ my service. To helping those who serve in response and i volunteered for the uso and started visiting our troops. And, you know, this is decades old, and it all came together four years ago when i create d y objective here is to have this foundation be here long after im gone serving and honoring the needs of our military and veteran community. Like i said, i dont think we can do enough for our freedom providers this is a dangerous 21st century. And well be facing a lot of challenges. And the military will be called upon many times in the coming decades. The Washington Post recently ran a story headlined military tributes at baseball games, true honors or hollow gestures . How would you answer that question . And also, talk about the change from after vietnam to today, and the appreciation and recognition veterans now receive from what they once did. What has really driven that change primarily, do you think . Well, you know, i cant respond to the baseball game thing. I dont or sports thing i dont know anything about that. I think we learned hard lessons from vietnam. And general livingston stayed in the military for 33 years. I know that for my