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Monday, May 27th, is Memorial Day. As you know, this is the day when we recognize and honor those killed in service to our country.

I am the son and nephew of WWII veterans. My dad served in the United State Merchant Marines and he would often tell stories of the dangers he faced when their merchant ships would come under attack. My uncle was severely wounded during the Battle of the Bulge. To them, there was no question about wanting to serve their country. The nation was at war and you did your part for victory. Dad and my uncle managed to survive the war but, sadly, many of their friends and those they served with did not. So whenever Memorial Day came around, I knew how special this day was for them.

While there is no real sense in war, there is honor in serving and we as a nation, sometimes to our shame, do not recognize those sacrifices enough. There are parades and moments of silence but those are cosmetics. Real appreciation is shown by taking care of those who protect us. This is an issue that needs to be stressed now more than ever.

This Sunday evening, PBS will once again broadcast the National Memorial Day Concert live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. This year’s event is co-hosted by Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna, two acclaimed actors who have also dedicated themselves to veterans’ causes.

In the following interview, Joe and Gary share their thoughts on the Memorial Day holiday and the wounded as they reunite again to co-host this year’s concert. The nation’s premier memorial will air Sunday, May 27th at 8pm and Monday, May 28th at noon on CET.

Q: Although you have both been involved in the National Memorial Day Concert in years past, this is your second time co-hosting. How do you think you complement each other in this show?

Sinise: I think it’s a perfect combination because Joe and I have a history together. We’re both from Chicago and we also both have veterans in our families so this particular day means something to both of us. The concert is some thing we look forward to all year.

Q: Gary, did playing the role of a disabled veteran “Lt. Dan” in Forrest Gump give you any insight that you use when you meet with wounded soldiers today?

Sinise: Service members still call me “Lt. Dan.” People seem to recognize that character and feel that they have an understanding of him, especially disabled veterans. But the “Lt. Dan” character is only one aspect of it. I’ve been out there supporting our vets for many years. I go over to Iraq and I’ve done more than fifty concerts for the USO with my Lt. Dan Band in the last three years. In fact, I’ll be coming straight from Iraq to the National Memorial Day Concert that weekend.

Q: Do you have any suggestions for Americans who have not been directly impacted by the war but who want to do something to support the troops?

Mantegna: I think all Americans have a moral obligation to do something because we live in a country that’s based on independence. You can’t expect those who have made that commitment to defend our liberties to carry the full burden. Whether it’s volunteering at a local VA hospital or if you’re an employer, maybe you hire one of these wounded guys. Watching the concert helps because it’s a good place to raise people’s consciousness to what we’re talking about.

Sinise: I would point people to several web sites and organizations. One is America Supports You. They can go there and see dozens of organizations that have been started by average American citizens who want to do something.

Other organizations include Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, The Wounded Warrior Project, The Disabled American Veterans, Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund and The Fisher House, among many others. One group started a project where they put together care packages for the troop while another group donated their frequent flier mileage. Three years ago, I started a program called Operation Iraqi Children where we send school supplies over the to the troops and they take them out and give them to the kids. We send pens and pencils, soccer balls, teddy bears and things like that. Hundreds of thousands of these supplies have been distributed all over Iraq to the kids. It’s a real morale builder for the troops and it’s a great thing for the kids who don’t have access to a lot of these simple supplies that we do.

Q: How do you feel that this year’s concert will help provide healing and strength both to the people who are in the audience attending as well as all the millions of people watching at home?

Mantegna: I would like to think that each year we’re making the concert better and more meaningful. Down the line sometime in the future, if we’re still doing this concert, I hope we’re doing it as remembrance of people many years past not so relevant to the current day. But that’s not this year. So until that day comes, we have to do all we can to call attention to memories of those who passed and those currently serving and the wounded and hope that there’s not going to be a lot more in the future.

Q: Last year you brought your Uncles with you to the concert. Was it emotional to be performing in front of them, honoring their service and the service that so many others have given to this country?

Sinise: It was great last year because I not only had my Uncle Jack who was a B-17 Navigator in World War II and there was a special segment in the show last year all about the B-17s, so it was a perfect time for him to come, but I also had my brother-in-law Jack who is a Vietnam Veteran in the Army and his son is now a Marine. My dad, who was in the Navy, was also there along with my sister-in-law who retired as a Captain in the Army after serving for twelve years. They’ll all be there again this year. It was great to be able to share that event with family members who have served because it’s such a significant and special day for them.

Mantegna: I brought my Uncle Willy and my Uncle Jack. It was very emotional for me to be able to introduce my uncles to General Pace who’s head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff because my uncle Willy fought with Patton’s Army and was wounded and my Uncle Jack was an aide to Admiral Halsey on the USS Enterprise. And they were representing other military members of my family such as my wife’s father who had fought in World War II. My uncle Willy only thought of himself as a regular G.I. and so being able to meet the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who shook his hand and gave him one of his medallion medals, that meant more to him than a million dollars. My uncles never talked much about their war experience and now doing something like this brings it out of them a little bit more and it’s just phenomenal.

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Thanks to both Gary and Joe for their time. You can watch the National Memorial Day Concert this Sunday at 8pm and again Monday at noon right here on CET.

–Brian