Gary Sinise Receives Distinguished Service Award
Gary Sinise (on right) shares a laugh with Joe Mantegna as he receives the 2023 Heroes Linked Distinguished Service Award. Mantegna received the award in 2022.
Gary Sinise, America’s leading advocate for those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold Star children, received Heroes Linked’s Don Schwarz Distinguished Service Award at the organization’s annual Gala that took place on Friday, November 17, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Heroes Linked’s program achievements were featured during the pre-dinner portion of the Gala, which kicked off with a Presentation of the Colors by the U.S. Army’s Fort Irwin and National Training Center Color Guard. Medal of Honor recipient Jim McCloughan sang the National Anthem.
As part of the Heroes Home Repair program, in 2023, service-disabled U.S. Army veterans Paul Nguyen and Albert Lopez received needed repairs to their Anaheim and Lynwood, California homes. After a video of these efforts was shown to the audience, Mr. Nguyen took the stage to express his gratitude in a moving address. The Heroes Home Repair program attracted significant media coverage, including a spot on KTLA.
The Heroes Network, Heroes Linked’s flagship program, was highlighted through the presentation of a video spotlighting the program and the veterans who have benefited from it.
Media coverage included The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and FOX11 LA.
The Heroes Network’s emphasis on post-service service career success for veterans is more important than ever. The biggest challenge facing veterans today is establishing positive post-service careers.
What Heroes Linked did that day renewed my faith in humanity. For them to do this unconditionally and to take me in as one of the family, inviting me to events after the fact should say a lot about their purpose and direction. I am up here as a testament to all the good Heroes Linked has done in the past, is presently doing, and what the upcoming future will hold.
– former U.S. Army specialist Paulnhu “Paul” Nguyen, recipient of Heroes Home Repair Program services.
Board Chair Robert Jerome.
The Heroes Network is a powerful tool to help overcome that challenge. It provides veterans across the country with the critically needed services of mentoring, advising, and networking in an easy-to-use online platform. Job acquisition, which was a major focus in the wake of the 2009 recession, is no longer an issue relative to assisting veterans to navigate their employment and build careers. As of October 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for all U.S. veterans was 2.5%, while the rate for the U.S. labor force as a whole stood at 3.7%.
(L-R) MG Mark Graham, USA (ret.), Mary McCormack, Gary Sinise, Joe Mantegna, and Carol Graham. MG Graham is a member of the Heroes Linked Board of Directors.
Heroes Linked will continue its efforts to mentor, guide, and prepare veterans as well as active-duty service members separating from service and Gold Star family survivors to transition to the private sector workforce on equal ground and thrive in careers with those who have not served.
In a reprise of a special segment from last year’s Gala, this year’s audience was treated to a moving video tribute to Advisory Board Member Maj. Gen. (ret.) Mark Graham and his wife Carol. The video was a segment from the nationally televised 2022 Memorial Day PBS Special from the Mall in Washington DC. In the segment, Joe Mantegna and actress Jean Smart portrayed Mark and Carol and told the story of their two sons’ deaths in the first person. Mark and Carol were reunited with Joe and Jean earlier in the evening.
Service-disabled U.S. Army veteran Paul Nguyen addresses the Gala audience. Paul’s home was repaired as part of the Heroes Home Repair program.
The program to present the Don Schwarz Distinguished Service Award to Gary Sinise followed a post-dinner set by singer-songwriter J.D. Hinton. Don Schwarz founded Heroes Linked’s predecessor, the MVAT Foundation, in 2009 and served as its board chair and guiding light until a few months before his May 2021 passing. The three original songs J.D. and an accompanist performed were heartfelt and stirring paeans to sacrifice in service to America.
Beginning with video tributes from eight of Gary Sinise’s close friends who were not able to attend the event, Joe Mantegna, last year’s honoree, introduced Gary. Joe, together with Heroes Linked’s Officers – Chair Bob Jerome, Vice Chair Pete Seitz, Secretary-Treasurer John Ventimiglia, and Executive Director James Colbert – presented Gary with the Don Schwarz Distinguished Service Award in response to which Gary delivered a heartfelt response.
Following the award ceremony, Board Chair Bob Jerome led a well-received presentation featuring Medal of Honor recipients Colonel Jack Jacobs (Board of Directors), Lieutenant Colonel Will Swenson (Board of Advisors), Master Sergeant Leroy Petry, Staff Sergeant Ryan Pitts, and Specialist Jim McCloughan.
Gary Sinise accepts the Distinguished Service Award. (Left to right) Executive Director James Colbert, Vice Chair Pete Seitz, Gary Sinise, Secretary-Treasurer John Ventimiglia, Joe Mantegna, Chair Bob Jerome.
The evening concluded with the drawing of the winning raffle tickets. For the Australia-New Zealand Adventure raffle, the winner was Mrs. G. Perkins Immerman of Los Angeles. The ticket was drawn by Medal of Honor recipient Master Sergeant Leroy Petry and announced to the Gala audience by Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sergeant Ryan Pitts.
Media coverage included The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and FOX11 LA.
Medal of Honor recipients flank Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna. (left to right) Jim McCloughan, Jack Jacobs, Leroy Petry, Ryan Pitts, and Will Swenson.
For the 7-Day Luxury European River Cruise raffle, the winner was Mrs. A. Wienir of Los Angeles. The ticket was drawn by Medal of Honor recipient Lieutenant Colonel Will Swenson and announced to the Gala audience by Medal of Honor recipient Master Sergeant Leroy Petry.