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Gary Sinise praised for tribute honoring fallen soldiers in Afghanistan: 'A class act'

In the clip, which has since gone viral, the Hollywood actor Gary Sinise lowered the Old Glory to half-staff in honor of the fallen soldiers

Gary Sinise, the actor who delivered a critically acclaimed performance portraying Lt Dan Taylor in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, drew applause after he posted a video tribute to the US servicemen who were killed and wounded in Thursday's deadly suicide bombings in Afghanistan.

In the clip, which has since gone viral, the Hollywood star lowered the Old Glory to half-staff in honor of the fallen soldiers. “In honor of the 12 Marines [and] one Navy corpsman that we lost today in Afghanistan, the 15 wounded and everybody who is serving over in Afghanistan, God bless you," he said. "We pray for you and your families. We pay tribute to all our fallen. We will never forget. Be safe. God bless all those serving and harm’s way. God bless our gold star families," he added.

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Shortly after Sinise's tribute, the number of confirmed US military personnel deaths in the aforementioned attacks was updated to 13. According to Breitbart News, the twin suicide bombings outside Hamid Karzai International Airport and the Baron Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan claimed at least 170 lives, including 13 US service members, and wounded another 150 people on Thursday, August 26.

Social media was inundated with praises for the Hollywood star's patriotism and respect for the troops. "Thank you @GarySinise and God Bless our military," actress Patricia Heaton tweeted. "Thank you brother @GarySinise," tenor Joe Bonsall added. "You're the best," congressional candidate Buzz Patterson chimed in.

"Gary Sinise is just a class act," House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy's comms director Michelle Perez Exner wrote.

"Gary Sinise gets it. I met him a couple of times overseas. No one supports the troops more selflessly than this guy. Thanks, Gary, and God bless our troops. Prayers to the families of those lost yesterday and over the last 20 years," one Twitter user said.

"You have a big heart. Thank you for all you do for our servicemen/women & veterans. As the granddaughter, daughter, and wife of veterans, I appreciate all that you do. Praying for those we've lost and those who continue to serve," a comment read.

"Saw Gary Sinise twice at Walter Reed in Bethesda. No cameras, no entourage, just a guy hanging out with wounded Marines and other military members. God bless him," another user added.

Sinise is known for his love of the troops and their service to the country. In July, his charity Gary Sinise Foundation marked its ten-year anniversary and the launch of a mental health services network. The organization is mainly focused on serving active and retired military personnel and emergency servicepersons. In 2020, Sinise was bestowed with the Patriot Award, the "highest honor given out by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society," for his years of advocacy on behalf of US veterans.

As reported by Media Research Center, Sinise established the charity in 2011 after raising money for Iraq War veterans. His foundation's website reads, “With the creation of the Gary Sinise Foundation, his crusade now supports all those who sacrifice on our behalf: active duty, veterans, first responders, and their loved ones.” The organization raises funds for veterans, offers relief to Gold Star families, and also builds specially adapted homes to help injured or disabled vets live their lives more normally, Breitbart News reported.