"You know when you stand there with three hundred thousand people in front of you and you are looking at the Capitol building and the flag flying.it transcends everything else. This is just about being an American and understanding that there were hundreds of thousands of Americans who sacrificed their lives over the many conflicts we had to fight.so we can have holidays like Memorial Day."

Joe Mantegna speaking with Mike Hess
AOL

"We're honoring all veterans who sacrificed throughout the history of this country. It's important to remember that what we have here has been paid for, paid for with human life."

Gary Sinise speaking with Lynn Elber
Associated Press

THE CONCERT

Co-host Conversations

Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise Share Their Thoughts on Memorial Day

Acclaimed actors Gary Sinise (CSI: New York) and Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds) reunite a sixth time to host the 2011 National Memorial Day Concert. Both Sinise and Mantegna have deep personal connections to the Memorial Day holiday and have dedicated themselves to veterans' causes as well as supporting our troops in active service.

Joe Mantegna and the Meaning of Memorial Day

Learn more about the causes Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna support:

Featured This Year

DStressLine
Developed by the Marine Corps to provide professional, anonymous counseling for Marines, attached Sailors, and families

Snowball Express
Creating hope and new memories for children of fallen military heroes by bringing families experiencing the loss of a service-member parent together so that they can realize they are not alone.

Act Today for Military Families
Military families shoulder tremendous responsibilities today due to multiple and lengthy deployments. Military families impacted by autism face even more extraordinary circumstances.

American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial Foundation
Dedicated to constructing the nation's first, permanent national tribute to America's disabled veterans.

Letters From Hollywood.
Actor DB Sweeney created a website for entertainment industry professionals to post their support online.

Other Important Resources

Our co-hosts are involved in activities to help support the troops, and we can join in!