Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service(98)
It was Cait Hoyt at Creative Artists Agency who put a bug in my ear about doing the book in the first place and who originally discussed the idea with my manager, Marc Gurvitz, and my agent, Matt Delpiano. Cait is a terrific book agent who gave me excellent notes on the first draft, and Marc and Matt are dear friends who have been with me and supported me for over twenty years. All three were great champions of this project. Thank you, folks.
Cait introduced me to Marcus Brotherton, and it was a great pleasure to work with Marcus. A wonderful writer, Marcus has a tremendous ear and is a great listener who was able to sort through my thoughts and help me get them organized. With my schedule so busy all the time, working with Marcus made it possible for me to get this done a lot sooner than I would have without his keen insight and excellent skill, and I thank him very much for the great work.
Matt Baugher and Brian Hampton at Thomas Nelson were eager to support the book, and our editor, Webster Younce, was great to work with. Webb was a steady voice and patient ear, and he gave me great advice in crafting the final drafts. Thank you, gents, as well as everyone at Thomas Nelson who supported this project.
My great executive assistant, Cristin Bartter, and my wonderful son, Mac, were also very helpful in research and helping me find key historical information. Thank you, Cristin and Mac, for your hard work.
Staci Wolfe has been my friend and publicist for over twenty years, doing a superb job at both. She has a keen eye and was very helpful with notes on the second draft. Thanks to both Staci and her colleague Greg Longstreet for doing a great job and for being wonderful friends and supporters.
At the Gary Sinise Foundation, thank you to Judy Otter, our staff, our Ambassadors Council, our Advisory Board, and members of our board of directors Jim Shubert and Pat Velasco, as well as former board members Jim Palmersheim and Bob Pence, for their support of my efforts over the years to serve and honor the needs of our veterans. Having a great team in place keeping the ship sailing along gave me the peace of mind and confidence that I could take the time required to write the book.
Finally, thank you to the inspirational first responders, military veterans, and family members who are the focus of much of this book. Your service to our country is very much appreciated by this grateful American.
God bless you.
About the Author
GARY SINISE, actor, director, musician, and humanitarian, has been an advocate for America’s veterans for nearly forty years. He’s best known for his roles in the award-winning movies Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Ransom, Of Mice and Men, Truman, George Wallace, and The Green Mile, and in the hit TV shows CSI: NY and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
Gary has won an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was nominated for an Oscar.
He’s the founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation, which serves and honors America’s defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. He’s the leader and bass player for the Lt. Dan Band, which has entertained more than half a million troops around the world. He is the cofounder of the prestigious Steppenwolf Theatre of Chicago.
Gary has been presented with many awards, including the Spirit of Hope Award by the Department of Defense. He was named an honorary Chief Petty Officer by the United States Navy, was pinned as an honorary marine, and received the Sylvanus Thayer Award at West Point, given to a civilian “whose character, service, and achievements reflect the ideals prized by the US Military Academy.” He’s the recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian honor awarded to citizens for “exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation.”
Gary lives with his wife, actress Moira Harris, outside of Los Angeles.
garysinisefoundation.org
MARCUS BROTHERTON is the New York Times bestselling author or coauthor of more than twenty-five books, including Tough as They Come with SSG Travis Mills, and We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories from the Band of Brothers. He has won the Christopher Award for literature that “affirms the highest value of the human spirit.”