Gary Sinise is a Hollywood star who is best known for playing Lieutenant Dan in the 1994 movie Forest Gump. It was this movie that inspired Sinise to start helping veterans when he wasn’t working. This week, he is celebrating 25 years of advocating for the non-profit organization Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

Sinise’s advocacy for veterans started after he received an award from DAV for his performance as Lt. Dan, a wheelchair bound veteran who struggles with alcoholism and mental illness after returning home from fighting in the Vietnam War.

“Your superb performance brought awareness of the lifelong sacrifice of disabled veterans back into public consciousness in a remarkable positive way,” the award stated, according to a press release from The Gary Sinise Foundation.

Sinise has been working with the DAV ever since he received the award, even acting as a spokesperson when the organization was advocating to construct the Americans Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in the nation’s capital.

“The memorial honors veterans of the armed forces of the United States who were permanently disabled during the course of their national service,” the release states.

Dennis Joyner, a former national commander for DAV, had some words of praise for Sinise.

“I don’t know of any other actor or actress that played a role and then adopted it as part of their personal life,” said Joyner. “Twenty-five years later, and he’s still at it.”

Back in 2003, Sinise started a rock group called the “Lt. Dan Band” as another way to help veterans. The group performs at military bases all over the world, and Sinise’s goal with it is to let veterans and active-duty military members know that “there are people out there who are aware of, and who understand the importance of keeping our military families strong in difficult times.”

“It was an honor to play Lt. Dan, I guess it was in some ways — you know when Lt. Dan talks about his destiny, I kinda feel like there was something at play there, that I would get to play that part,” Sinise said.

It’s so refreshing to see a Hollywood star using his platform to help veterans! Find out more about this in the video below.