This Veterans Day, we honor our heroes for their service and sacrifice, and for the entire month of November we support veterans and their families for National Veterans and Military Families Month.
As proud supporters of the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF), Envoy and American Airlines continue to provide charters and assistance, in the air and on the ground, to actor and humanitarian, Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band,as they bring honor, gratitude and rock ‘n’ roll to the military community.
Band aides are there because of the music — and to support our nation’s heroes.
The Lt. Dan Band playing in Fort Drum, NY.
Earlier this year, the Lt. Dan Band visited numerous locations across Envoy’s network where music fans (also known as Envoy employees) were happy to greet them upon arrival. One of the earlier stops in the year was at Watertown International Airport (ART) in Jefferson County, NY when the band played at the nearby U.S. Army Base in Fort Drum, NY.
“We had an Envoy Embraer 170 charter with a very special guest onboard. It was an awesome experience, and it was wonderful to work with our team from the System Operations Control (SOC), Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band members. It was a true pleasure,” said ART General Manager, Cheryl Weaver.
Team Envoy on the ground with Gary Sinise in ART.
Envoy’s Embraer 170 aircraft parked in ART.
9/11 Never Forget
Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band in Fort Liberty, NC.
After their visit to ART, the Lt. Dan Band did a three-city tour. They visited Fort Liberty and Charlotte, NC and closed the tour in Erie, PA on September 11th for First Responder Appreciation Day at the Highmark Amphitheatre at Liberty Park. With the concert open to the public, over 3,000 people were in attendance.
“It was such an incredible honor uplifting local first responders of Erie, PA, on September 11th during our Gary Sinise Foundation First Responders Appreciation Day. The 22nd anniversary of the attack on our country was spent connecting with folks who answer the call every day, and the families who sacrifice alongside them. A huge turnout for our concert! It was a joy to see this wonderful community having a great time celebrating their local police and fire departments”, said Sinise on his Instagram account.
“This is the second charter that I’ve had the honor of working. They have both impacted my life greatly”, said Chicago O’Hare (ORD) based Flight Attendant, Twyla Balstad, who was part of the crew on the three-city tour. “The energy at the concert on September 11th that was expended by the band was soaked up by the crowd. I can’t even begin to describe it, it was an incredible experience”, she continued.
ORD-based Flight Attendants, Richard (Richie) Mentzer, Jr (left) and Twyla Balstad (right), in Charlotte, NC (CLT).
To learn more about the GSF charter from September, view the video below and be sure to click HERE to see the gallery of photos from the Lt. Dan Band concert in Fort Liberty, NC on September 9th.
Cover photo: Molly Callinan (left), Gary Sinise (right) with the Lt. Dan Band, rockin’ out in Fort Liberty, NC.