Actor Gary Sinise, Arlington Park to Honor Veterans

Actor Gary Sinise is teaming with a suburban Chicago horse racing track to raise money to help veterans.

The Gary Sinise Foundation and Arlington International Racecourse will hold a fundraising luncheon and other events Sunday, The Daily Herald reported.

The park also will offer free admission to military members, firefighters, police officers and other first responders with a badge or other proof of identification.

Sinise says he started hearing from veterans after he starred in the movie "Forrest Gump." Sinise played Lt. Dan, who loses both legs fighting in Vietnam.

The native of suburban Chicago said the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have created "a whole new generation of real life Lt. Dans."

NBC Chicago salutes the men and women in the armed forces who have died in combat. AP
NBC Chicago salutes the men and women in the armed forces who have died in combat.
Sgt. Dean Shaffer was among four soldiers killed in April 2012 when the Black Hawk helicopter they were in crashed.
Marine Cpl. Alex Martinez, 21, of Elgin, died in April 2012 in Afghanistan's Helmand Province.
Marine Cpl. Conner Lowry, 24, was killed in March 2012. He was a gunner on a Humvee when he was killed. His family said Lowry was electrocuted.
U.S. Army
U.S. Army Spec. Ricardo Cerros Jr., 24, of Gary, Ind., was killed in Afghanistan Oct. 8. He was the only casualty after insurgents attacked his unit, resulting in a firefight.
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Spc. James A. Butz, 21, of Porter, was reportedly treating an injured soldier when their truck was hit by a roadside bomb.
Captain Jeffrey Bland and Lt. Thomas Heitmann were killed in a Marine helicopter crash in San Diego. (Photo courtesy Fox5SanDiego.com)
Oklahoma National Guard
Spc. Augustus Vicari, 22 of Lowell, Ind., was killed July 29 in an explosion while patrolling in Janak Kheyl, Afghanistan. Vicari was part of the Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Michael Olivieri, 26, died in an indirect base fire attack June 6 in Iraq. He deployed in November 2010 to support Operation New Dawn. He joined the army in January 2010, and was one of five members of the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team to fall in the attack.
NBCChicago.com
Lance Cpl James Stack with his wife, Katie, and daughter Mikayla. Stack was killed on Nov. 10, 2010 -- the Marine Corps' 235th birthday -- while on foot patrol on Afghanistan's Helmand Province.
Andrew P. Wade, 22, from Antioch, was killed during a non-combat incident in Afghanistan on March 9, 2011.
Monterey County SPCA
Pfc. Andrew N. Meari, of Plainfield, was one of two soldiers killed in Kandahar, Afghanistan when insurgents attacked his unit with an explosive device. (AP Photo/U.S. Army)
RTV
Spc. James C. Young, 25, of Rochester, died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
Senior Airman Daniel Johnson, of Schiller Park, was killed in October when insurgents attacked his unit with an explosive device.
Family Photo
Marine Lance Cpl. Alec E. Catherwood, of Byron, died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
DOD
Staff Sgt. Joshua D. Powell, of Pleasant Plains, Ill.; and Sgt. Marvin R. Calhoun Jr., of Elkhart, Ind., were killed September in a helicopter crash in Southern Afghansitan.
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Sgt. 1st Class Edgar Roberts, of Park Forrest, was injured during a roadside explosion in June and his parents had been told he was killed although he was recovering in ICU. Roberts later died from his injuries in August.
Gannett Government Media
Sgt. Anibal Santiago, of Belvidere Ill., was killed in July in Kwowst, Afghanistan, during a noncombat related incident.
Gannett Government Media
Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Antonik, of Crystal Lake, was killed this July in combat. He was serving his first tour in Afghanistan after serving two tours in Iraq.
Army Ranger, Spc. Joseph Whiting Dimock II, of Lake County was killed this July in Afghanistan during an explosion at an ammunition holding facility during an inventory check.
Army Spc. Kyle J. Wright, 22, was killed Jan. 12, 2010 when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.
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