Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band Raise Nearly $25,000 at Benefit Concert in Fayetteville

By: Kelly Twedell

Friday night, September 12, the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and Gary Sinise and Lt. Dan Band drew a crowd of around 800 people with $15,000 in ticket sales.

Proceeds from the benefit concert at Fayetteville's Festival Park go towards triple amputee Veterans Army MSG John Masson, a local, and Marine SSgt. Tom McRae in order to fund "Smart Homes" for them.

The crowd rose to their feet as they clapped and cheered when the two Veterans rolled into the park's seating area. It was an emotional site to behold.

Staten Island artist Scott LoBaido volunteered to pain a 45-foot flag mural in the park especially for the event. The mural was completed earlier in the week over 10 hours.

On the stage before the concert, LoBaido painted a two feet by three feet painting in three minutes to the music of 'God Bless America' that was auctioned off with another creation for $2,500 each.

Two autographed electric guitars were also auctioned off for $2,500 each, bringing the night's total to an estimated $25,000, not counting a collection that was taken up amongst the crowd towards the project.

The crowd sang along and danced to the cover tunes of all genres. Fans moved up close to the stage to snap photos of the generous military supporter super star. The evening ended in a special tribute to Stephen Siller with the crowd holding up small electric candles that lit up the night as a time of remembrance.

View photos of the evening's event here.