Did Gary Sinise take 1000 kids of fallen service members to Disney? Snowball Express claim explored

Gary Sinise was recently rumored to have taken a thousand children of ex-service members to Walt Disney World, the rumors of which have now proven to be partially true. According to reports, the "Forrest Gump" actor has been arranging this all-expense-paid trip to Disney for the past few years through his own foundation, the Gary Sinise Foundation's initiative, the Snowball Express.

Gary Sinise is well known for his efforts to show his appreciation for past and present service members. According to Parade Magazine, Sinise will perform later this month along with his band, Lt. Dan Band, to pay homage to the service members who served in World War II. Talking about the concert, which will take place on August 30 at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Gary Sinise said:

"Honoring the heroes of the Greatest Generation, our nation's World War II veterans, has always been close to my heart. My Uncle Jack, a B-17 navigator in WWII, played a big role in inspiring my deep respect for those who served during that time.

He further added:

Through the Gary Sinise Foundation, we've worked to make sure their legacy, and the sacrifices they made for our freedom, are never forgotten. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, it's a true privilege to bring the Lt. Dan Band to Hawaii on August 30th to honor, salute and say thank you to these incredible men and women. We owe them so much."

More about the rumor regarding Gary Sinise taking a thousand children of fallen ex-service members to Disneyland

Gary Sinise has always talked about his deep love and respect for former service members. According to rumors circulating online, Gary Sinise had taken about one thousand children to Walt Disney World so that they could enjoy themselves for over five days of celebration.

All those on the rumored trip, which takes place in December, are children of fallen ex-service members and are part of "gold star families." The rumor, which has now been confirmed as mostly true, was first posted by comedian Terrence K. Williams earlier this week. In the post, he wrote:

"Actor Gary Sinise took over 1,000 children of fallen soldiers to Disneyland, free of charge."

However, it must be noted that Gary Sinise did not recently take these children to Walt Disney World, as the trips are always held in December. According to People Magazine, back in 2019, Gary Sinise had taken children to Walt Disney World in Florida. The Gary Sinise Foundation had collaborated with American Airlines to take over 1500 children to Walt Disney World. Talking about the Snowball Express initiative, Gary Sinise said:

“I’ve gotten to know a lot of these families. I love them and I want to just do something to help them through. The important ingredient is that these kids meet each other and they know they’re not alone. They make friendships that last a lifetime

Many members of Gary Sinise's own family have served in the military. According to People Magazine, his grandfather served in the army during WWI, while his uncle was deployed during WWII. In an interview with the outlet, Gary Sinise talked about raising $30 million for charity, saying:

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"I’ve found that service is the best way to heal. Sinise’s foundation The Gary Sinise Foundation now raises now raises $30 million annually – 90% of which goes toward the organization’s programs, like building specially adapted smart homes for severely disabled vets and bringing military families to Disney World."

Gary Sinise is not currently acting, as he had previously taken an extended break to care for his son, who passed away from cancer in 2024 at the age of thirty-three.

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