Gary Sinise's late son plays 'special' part in 'National Memorial Day Concert'

Bryan Alexander, USA TODAYSun, May 24, 2026 at 1:01 PM UTC

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Gary Sinise will take the rare opportunity to thank a Pearl Harbor hero in person this Memorial Day weekend.

"Forrest Gump" star Sinise, 71, will honor the 102-year-old Navy veteran, Chuck Kohler, one of 11 remaining survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack 85 years ago, on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The moment will be one of many televised tributes to those who wore the uniform – present or not – as host of PBS' "National Memorial Day Concert" on May 24 (8 p.m. ET/5 PT, check local listings).

"We're losing 1,000 World War II veterans every single day, so time is short," says Sinise, whose portrayal of wounded veteran Lieutenant Dan in 1994's "Forrest Gump" propelled the Academy Award-nominated actor to next-level veteran's advocate status. "This is the nation's opportunity, on live TV, to honor their service. The opportunities that we have to bring them together are increasingly special."

Earl “Chuck” Kohler, 102, will be honored at PBS' "National Memorial Day Concert" on May 24.

The 37th annual concert is a nonpartisan event that has never hosted the sitting U.S. president (President Donald Trump will not attend this year). The memorial concert, during the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, is about giving thanks to people who sacrificed for their country.

"This is not a political thing. It doesn't matter who is in the White House, the Senate or the House," Sinise says. "We're divided over many things, but everyone can recognize that we have a responsibility to recognize the men and women who put their lives on the line to defend us."

Sinise will co-host the event with "West Wing" star Mary McCormack after longtime co-host Joe Mantegna had to drop out this year "due to unforeseen circumstances," according to a May 21 statement. "I'm looking forward to joining the millions of Americans watching this Sunday's concert on PBS," Mantegna said in the release.

Gary Sinise will co-host PBS' "National Memorial Day Concert" on May 24 with Mary McCormack after co-host Joe Mantegna dropped out "due to unforeseen circumstances."A special tribute to Sinise's composer son Mac

There will be musical acts. Country stars Mickey Guyton, Jamey Johnson (who served eight years in the Marine Corps Reserve) and Alan Jackson will have their turns onstage. Under the direction of concert-veteran conductor Jack Everly, the National Symphony Orchestra will perform pieces that include two written by Sinise's composer son, McCanna Anthony "Mac" Sinise, who died in 2024 of a rare bone cancer called chordoma.

"That is very special," Sinise says. "I'm so proud to have two of my son's works played by the National Symphony Orchestra."

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Memorial Concert will honor veterans with Noah Wyle, Melissa Leo

The annual pre-Memorial Day TV showcase features stars highlighting veteran stories from past conflicts, including the 1776 American Revolution. "The Pitt" star and executive producer Noah Wyle will bring militiaman Joseph Plumb Martin's story fighting under Gen. George Washington to life. Oscar winner Melissa Leo will recount the actions of retired Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho, who rushed into rescue mode during the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon.

Retired Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho will be honored at the "National Memorial Day Concert" on May 24 after her heroic actions following the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon.

Vietnam War veterans and Gold Star families, representing more than 1 million men and women who have given their lives, will also receive special tributes.

Commemorating the 85th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, "Breaking Bad" star Jonathan Banks will tell WWII hero Kohler's story, which reads like a Hollywood movie. At age 16, Kohler convinced his dad to sign his enlistment form to enter the Navy on April 3, 1941. On Dec. 7, the first bomb from a Japanese pilot hit near the hangar where Kohler was writing a letter home, sending window glass into his head, neck and shoulders.

Kohler and another sailor mounted a .50-caliber machine gun on a nearby American plane and emptied round after round of ammunition into the attacking aircraft. To bookend the experience, Kohler ultimately witnessed the surrender of a Japanese garrison in August 1945 after being deployed to the Marshall Islands Pacific campaign.

Visiting Pearl Harbor 68 years after the attack, Kohler made a vow to continue the remembrance to the comrades he lost. Each Dec. 7, the centenarian lights a beacon at the top of California's Mount Diablo to keep their memory alive.

In March, Kohler received an internet-viral half-court tribute at a Michigan State University basketball game, featuring the team's forward and great-grandson Jaxon Kohler.

"Chuck's in great shape and he'll be there," says producer Michael Colbert, whose late father Jerry Colbert started the concert in 1989. "It's so important that we never forget. Chuck was part of the Greatest Generation that saved the world. We're blessed to still have him with us."

How to watch the 'National Memorial Day Concert'

The 37th annual broadcast of the "National Memorial Day Concert" airs live on Sunday, May 24 on PBS from (8 ET/5 PT, check local listings). Service members around the world can watch on the American Forces Network. The concert will also be streaming on YouTube and PBS.org. The concert will be available as Video on Demand from May 24 to June 7, 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gary Sinise honors son, veterans at PBS 'National Memorial Day Concert'

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