Gabriel Awards at 1645 Brook Lynn Dr., Suite 2, Dayton, OH 45432-1944 US - Gary Sinise - Personal Achievement Award honoree

Television viewers are very familiar with Gary Sinise, who, since 2004, has starred as detective Mac Taylor in the CBS drama CSI: NY. But Gary caught the public's attention long before that. His captivating role as Lt. Dan Taylor in the memorable 1994 film Forrest Gump made an impression not only on filmgoers, but on Gary personally.

In playing the role of a physically crippled and emotionally wounded Vietnam veteran, Gary came to understand the personal sacrifice so many of our military men and women make in service to their country. His passion to help those who offer their lives in service to other became more intense in the wake of September 11, 2001, when he made a personal commitment to do all that he could to support our military men and women.

Becoming active with the USO, he visited bases in Iraq and co-founded Operation Iraqi Children, which helped provide US military with school kits to give children in the war-torn country. Once established, the program was able to provide assistance in other troubled regions, including Hurricane Katrina impacted areas in Louisiana and Mississippi.

In 2010, he formed the Gary Sinise Foundation, dedicated to serving the Nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. Through corporate sponsorships, individual donations and charitable musical performances by Gary's Lt. Dan Band, the Foundation provides financial support to a number of Veterans' organizations that serve those who have served.

Gary serves as the National Spokesperson for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial and spends much of his time raining awareness for the Memorial and other veterans' service organizations.

In addition to Forrest Gump, Gary has collaborated with actor Tom Hands in two other films, Apollo 13 and The Green Mile. Several of his other films include Of Mice and Men (which he directed), Reindeer Games, Ransom and Mission to Mars.

His television performances include a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Mini Series for his portrayal of President Harry Truman in the 1995 production of Truman. In 1997, he won an Emmy for George Wallace, in which he portrayed the former Alabama governor.

Among his other noteworthy accomplishments, Gary was co-executive producer of the Iraq War documentary Brothers at War, a film featuring an American military family and the experiences of three brothers: Jake Rademacher, Isaac Rademacher and Joseph Rademacher. Since 2006, Gary has co-narrated with actor Joe Mantegna, the PBS televised National Memorial Day Concert on the Mall in Washington, D.C.

Photo:  Fr. Wilfred Raymond, CSC, Director of Family Theater Productions, and Gary Sinise. Since 1994, the Gabriel Personal Achievement Award is sponsored by Family Theater Productions and given by the Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals in honor of the late Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, founder of Family Theater Productions of Hollywood, California.