TITLE: Recognizing actor and veterans advocate Gary Sinise as an honorary Texan.

SUMMARY: Recognizing actor and veterans advocate Gary Sinise as an honorary Texan.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, For many years, the gifted actor Gary Sinise has dedicated his time, energy, and resources to the cause of American service members and veterans, and his work on their behalf truly merits special recognition; and WHEREAS, Mr. Sinise's acclaimed performances on stage and screen have earned him a Golden Globe, an Emmy, two Screen Actors Guild awards, and three Tony nominations; his notable film roles include Lieutenant Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump,George Milton in Of Mice and Men,and Ken Mattingly in Apollo 13,while on television he has played Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath,Harry S. Truman in Truman,and Detective Mac Taylor on 197 episodes of CSI: New York;most recently, he has been FBI agent Jack Garrett on Criminal Minds;and WHEREAS, From the earliest days of his career, Mr. Sinise has served as an advocate for all who have ever worn a uniform of this nation's armed forces; in the 1980s, he sponsored free dinners and performances for veterans at the Steppenwolf Theatre, the famed company he helped to found in Chicago, and in recent years, he has entertained troops at home and abroad with the Lt. Dan Band, named after his character from Forrest Gump,raising money for wounded warriors and their families; and WHEREAS, Mr. Sinise has also been a spokesperson for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Foundation and the Disabled American Veterans, and he has led efforts to raise funds for the Pentagon Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance in New York; he sits on the executive councils of the USO and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation and on the advisory board of Hope for the Warriors; and WHEREAS, In 2011, Mr. Sinise established the Gary Sinise Foundation, which serves and honors our nation's defenders, veterans, and first responders and their families; its outreach efforts include building custom smart homes for severely wounded veterans, providing departing troops with hearty meals, and launching a website, GetSkillstoWork.org, designed to help veterans find civilian jobs; and WHEREAS, In recognition of his commitment to our military men and women, Mr. Sinise has received the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the Spirit of Hope Award from the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor; he is only the third actor to ever receive the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian award, and in 2012, he was named an honorary chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy; and WHEREAS, Whether he is portraying veterans and police officers with dignity and integrity, performing his music for troops on remote military bases, or advocating on their behalf at home, Gary Sinise has proven to be a true patriot and a tireless champion for our military personnel and veterans; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby recognize Gary Sinise as an honorary Texan and commend him for his lifelong commitment to America's service members and veterans; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Sinise as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Parker Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 939 was adopted by the House on March 19, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House