2025 Medal of Honor Celebration Announces Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band to Perform at Patriot Gala on October 4

An Exciting, Rare Performance by Gary Sinise & The Lt. Dan Band Will Honor the Service and Commitment of our Nation's 61 Living Medal of Honor Recipients 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., July 10, 2025 -- In what promises to be a powerful and unforgettable evening, the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center is honored to announce acclaimed actor and veterans advocate Gary Sinise will bring the electrifying energy of the Lt. Dan Band to the Patriot Gala, the capstone event during the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration. This exciting, highly anticipated performance—set for Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Chattanooga Convention Center—will be the marquee moment for the annual Patriot Gala that honors the courage and sacrifice of our nation's 61 living Medal of Honor Recipients.

"Gary Sinise is a powerful force - using his voice, his platform, and his talent to honor those who serve," said Medal of Honor Recipient Kyle Carpenter, 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration Liaison. "He has been showing up for the Medal of Honor community and all our nation's service members for decades, giving generously of his time and heart.  Having him emcee and perform with the Lt. Dan Band at the 2025 Patriot Awards Gala is a gift, not just to myself and my fellow Recipients, but to a nation that is better for his example and continued generosity. We are deeply grateful for his unwavering commitment and friendship, and we look forward to spending time with him in Chattanooga."

Best known for his iconic role as wounded Vietnam War veteran Lt. Dan Taylor in the Academy Award-winning film Forrest Gump, Sinise has spent decades championing America's veterans and active-duty service members through his Gary Sinise Foundation and performing with the Lt. Dan Band. The band has performed nearly 600 shows around the globe, raising spirits in a way few acts can match while honoring the men and women who have and continue to serve and defend our country across the world.

"It has been my great honor supporting our Medal of Honor Recipients over the years and playing concerts for them has been an absolute joy." said Gary Sinise. "We've done this in Honolulu, Hawaii; Rogers, Arkansas; Pueblo, Colorado, and I am thrilled to be coming to Chattanooga to perform at the convention this year. These heroes have given so much to our country, and honoring their sacrifice through music is one small way I can say thank you. They represent the very best of America, and it's a great privilege to do a little more to ensure their courage and commitment are never forgotten." 

Sinise added, "The Patriot Gala is a powerful evening of gratitude and celebration—an opportunity for us to come together and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices made by our Medal of Honor Recipients and to support them as they honor the service of others, presenting their Congressional Medal of Honor awards. It's also a reminder that our veterans and active-duty military deserve to know their own service, sacrifice, and dedication to liberty will always be remembered, honored, and cherished by a grateful nation."

The Patriot Gala serves as one of the most moving and inspiring events during the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration, offering an opportunity for the public to gather alongside America's most decorated heroes for a night of recognition, remembrance and patriotism.  

In addition, the Patriot Gala will recognize four individuals who, through their life's work, promote and perpetuate the principles upon which our country was founded and encourage the six core values of Patriotism, Citizenship, Courage, Integrity, Sacrifice and Commitment. This year's honorees include former Defense Secretary Dr. Robert Gates, Fox News Correspondent Johnny "Joey" Jones, country singer and songwriter John Rich, and philanthropist Kathleen Rollins.

"This is more than just a performance—it's a powerful tribute to the values and sacrifices that make our nation great," said Linda Moss Mines, board trustee for the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center and co-chair of the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration. "Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band bring an energy and reverence that elevates the entire evening. We are proud to welcome them to Chattanooga—the Birthplace of the Medal of Honor—and we know their performance will be a powerful and unforgettable moment for the Patriot Gala, creating a lasting impact for everyone in attendance."

Don't miss our chance to honor the 61 living Medal of Honor Recipients and experiencing a powerful performance that pays tribute to their legacy. Tables and sponsorships for the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration and Patriot Gala are still available—but they won't last long. Reserve yours today!

Presented by Textile Rubber & Chemical Company, the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration is also sponsored by the Gary W. Rollins Foundation, the Gary Sinise Foundation, American Airlines, CSX, the Robert Irvine Foundation, the Jack and Charlotte Frost Family Foundation, the Frank P. Pierce Foundation, Unum, AM General, Food City, Miller Industries, Realized Solutions, Tennessee Valley Authority, the Kennedy Family Foundation and the PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes. Additional sponsorships are still available today, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.  

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Vince Butler at (423) 877-2525 or [email protected]. Additional information and future updates on the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration are available online at www.MOHHC.org/Celebration.  To learn more about the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, please visit www.MOHHC.org. 

Link to video about the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration

About the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center
The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center is situated in the heart of the Birthplace of the Medal of Honor—Chattanooga, Tennessee. The 19,500 square-foot facility is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Medal of Honor and sharing the incredible stories of Medal of Honor Recipients through immersive exhibits and educational programming. Through this mission, the Heritage Center strives to educate future generations about the six character traits embodied by the Medal of Honor and its Recipients–Patriotism, Citizenship, Courage, Integrity, Sacrifice and Commitment—and inspire the leaders of tomorrow to embody these traits in their daily actions to make a difference in their community and world. Learn more at www.MOHHC.org. 

About the Congressional Medal of Honor Society
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Medal of Honor (the United States' highest award for military valor in action) and its Recipients, inspiring Americans to live the values the Medal represents, and supporting Recipients as they connect with communities across America. Chartered by Congress in 1958, the Society's membership consists exclusively of those individuals who have received the Medal of Honor. The Society carries out its mission through outreach, education, and preservation programs, including the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, Citizen Honors Awards, and The Medal of Honor Museum. As part of Public Law 106-83, the Medal of Honor Memorial Act, The Medal of Honor Museum, which is co-located with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's headquarters on board the U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, was designated as one of three national Medal of Honor sites. The Society's programs and operations are fully funded by generous donors. Learn more about the Medal of Honor and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's initiatives at cmohs.org.

SOURCE Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center