Hollywood seems to love lavishing praise on every vapid celebrity every time they do something charitable. Usually, the extent of charitable work you see celebrities performing involves writing a check and a quick photo opp. You don’t often see celebrities consistently going out of their way to do good things. A quick glimpse at the website Look to the Stars, which compiles celebrity charitable giving, tells a lot. You see headlines like “Pamela Anderson Pens PETA Letter”, “Stars Design Pet Bowls for SPCA”, “Radiohead Auctions Remix For Missing People”, “Young Jeezy Gives To The Needy”, and “Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake Bring Sexy Back to Charity Event”. And while of course it’s very nice for celebrities to give their time and money every now and then to help out a cause, I have no doubt that for many it’s just as much for PR purposes as it is because the celebrity genuinely “cares”. A band remixing a song, something they’d likely have done anyways, for a good cause is nice but not exactly a huge contribution of their time and energy. Designing pet bowls for the SPCA is a cute idea, but how much effort does that really require? How much time and effort goes into writing a letter and then alerting the press about it, or making a one-time donation, or showing up on the red carpet at some “charity” event? The point is, these are all nice things to do, but giving of yourself every once in a blue moon (with of course the prerequisite press release so everyone knows how “generous” you are) does not make you a charitable person. There are several celebrities that come to mind that consistently go out of their way for charity: Bono, Angelina Jolie, Kid Rock, and Arnold Schwarzenegger are just a few that come to mind.

One celebrity, though, you surely won’t have heard about. Given the prestigious award he just received, it’s a little puzzling (OK, not really that puzzling) that none of the many entertainment television shows, magazines, and blogs felt that they needed to cover it. President Bush awarded actor Gary Sinise with the Presidential Citizens Medal last week, the second highest civilian honor one can receive for service to their country. And after reading Andrew Breitbart’s article (who I hope doesn’t mind my use of it here — I couldn’t help it, it’s just so good!), there’s no doubt in my mind that he deserved it.

Since war became a geographically distant but very real way of life after Sept. 11, 2001, no Hollywood star has stepped up to support active duty U.S. military personnel and wounded veterans like Gary Sinise. There is no close second. And quietly, as is in his nature, he is becoming something akin to this generation´s Bob Hope.

One step in conferring this worthy title on the award-winning actor, director and producer occurred last week when President Bush bestowed on him the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian honor awarded to citizens for exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation. Previous recipients include Henry “Hank” Aaron, Muhammad Ali, Colin L. Powell and Bob Dole.

While the White House ceremony flew under the radar of most of the media, most notably the entertainment press, word has trickled out to many of his countless admirers in and out of the military. And on the occasion of him receiving the award, they want America to take in their words of praise for, as Sharon Tyk in the USO of Illinois put it, this “gallant American patriot.”

Michael Yon, a Special Forces vet and the pre-eminent war journalist of our time, communicated his admiration in a dispatch from Bahrain: “Gary is a true friend of the American soldier. He does not hesitate to travel into war zones to express his admiration and personal support for those who defend us. He visits wounded soldiers, some of whom I personally know. All love him.

“Soldiers from privates to generals admire Gary for his dedication to a cause greater than any of us. Gary’s dedication went much further. He personally supported sending millions of dollars worth of school and clothing supplies to Iraqi children. I saw this effort with my own eyes. Gary Sinise is a Great American.”

… Mr. Sinise, who currently stars in “CSI: New York,” is best known for his Oscar-nominated turn as Lt. Dan Taylor in “Forrest Gump,” which won the best picture Academy Award in 1994.

Lt. Dan – the iconic character who lost his limbs in the Vietnam War – created a connection between Mr. Sinise and veterans that reached far beyond the big screen.

“His superb performance brought awareness of the lifelong sacrifice of disabled veterans into the public consciousness in a remarkably positive way,” said retired Maj. Gary Weaver of the U.S. Marine Corps and national director of communications for Disabled American Veterans.

… To get a sense of the scope of what Mr. Sinise means to soldiers like Spc. Hale, filmmaker and Air Force veteran Jonathan Flora followed him and his band to Afghanistan and Iraq in 2008. He recounts one time when he witnessed one of Mr. Sinise´s typical interactions with the troops.

“It was hot, Iraq hot when we stopped at a check point before entering an FOB (Forward Operating Base). Gary began speaking with a soldier through the window and soon we were all standing outside so he could have his picture taken with him and a few of his buddies. Soon there were at least fifty guys around him and he greets each one as he always does. This is an unscheduled stop and we are being urged to move on so as to be on time for his next stop, but Gary, still, meets with each one and gives them their time. Finally, we have to move on as he says good-bye to the last soldier.

“As we are about to get into the vehicle we hear the guys yelling and in the distance is one more soldier. He is dressed in full battle-rattle humping as fast as he can in this unbearable heat to get to Gary before he leaves. He had just been relieved from his point and heard that Gary Sinise had stopped by the check point, and he was determined not to miss him. Gary without hesitation stopped and waited and he greeted this young man as if he was the first man in line, full of enthusiasm and appreciation.

“When we did finally get into the vehicle I mentioned to Gary how I observe how he makes each and every man or woman feel special and appreciated, he paused in thought before answering, as he often does, and then says with a heavy heart, ‘It’s because we don’t know what the next hour holds for them. As tired as I might get sometimes, and I do, it is nothing compared to what they go through day-after-day with the price they are so readily willing to pay.’ ”

… Deb Rickert of Operation Support our Troops said it best about Mr. Sinise, the recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal.

“In an age when the public often lavishes epitaphs of greatness on celebrities merely because they are famous, the military community bestows the simple title of friend on Gary Sinise truly because that is what he is to us.”

How sad is it that Gary Sinise, a man who so selflessly gives of himself to benefit the people who make the biggest sacrifice for us, gets absolutely no recognition for it from his peers? Gary Sinise is a true patriot, a model American citizen, who deserves this honor and many more. But his efforts, and the honor awarded to him, goes unnoticed by Hollywood. This, however, just goes to show us that much more how honorable a man Gary Sinise is. He doesn’t notify the press corps when he goes to meet with our brave men and women in uniform; he doesn’t write a check and then forget about them. He quietly gives of himself, his time, and his money over and over and over again, without asking for anything in return. It’s inspiring, to say the least, and he should be applauded. So, on this blog, he will be. Please join me in giving not only congratulations to Mr. Sinise, but also our thanks, for all he does.

Hat Tip: Ericka Anderson