Yesterday, I reported that the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Snowball Express was well underway at the Walt Disney World Resort. The foundation is a non-profit that focuses on veterans, first responders, and their families, and have helped send almost 2,000 people from Gold Star families to Walt Disney World this year.
In fact, annual event provides children of the nation’s fallen heroes, as well as their surviving parent/guardian, with an opportunity to relax and enjoy fun and therapeutic activities alongside other families who know exactly what they’re going through- which also happens to take place at the happiest place on Earth. Providing these families with a much needed dose of magic this holiday season.
Recently released pictures from the foundation and various media outlets have provided us with a deeper look inside the past few days of the event, held throughout Disney’s theme parks and at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
The actor and Veteran Advocate was over come with emotion as he read a placard describing his brother-in-law in the Remembrance Garden at the 2019 Snowball Express gathering.
Each of the American Flags in the Remembrance Garden symbolizes the fallen soldiers of the families present during the 5 day event. It’s a place the families can visit to pray for and remember the loved ones they lost.
Hawk Tucker, an Army Airborne Veteran, (first picture above) is personally greeted by the actor during the event at Coronado Springs this morning. In fact, Mr. Sinise took the time to spend time with all the Veterans in attendance. In the second picture, Army Veterans Bret Mandell, Joshua Cope, and Andrew Hearn were embrace by the actor.
A large part of the gathering, perhaps even its center piece, is the Fallen Heroes Wall at the Remembrance Garden.
Aside from spending quality time with those in attendance at the gathering, Gary Sinise also took the time to answer questions with local press and media.
The Walt Disney World Resort pulled out all the stops this morning for Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express families as they paraded down Main Street U.S.A. alongside Gary Sinise to the fanfare and applause of Disney cast members and many others inside the Magic Kingdom. With the Disney marching band playing tunes to add to the decibel of excitement, families of fallen military heroes were given raucous applause and cheered every step of the way as they approached the Magic Castle.
Although he’s an acclaimed actor, Gary Sinise has been and remains and advocate for veterans and their families. As he spoke from his heart to a sea of families, many were over come with emotion as they remembered their loved ones who gave their lives for defending our country and our freedom.
For more information on the Gary Sinise Foundations’ Snowball Express, click here.
