An actor who played a wounded Vietnam War veteran in the movie "Forrest Gump" is doing something in real life to honor wounded soldiers.

Video: Sinise Ready To Rock For Troops

Gary Sinise on Thursday helped announce a huge shipment of care packages by "Operation Support Our Troops" and also presented a check at a news conference on Thursday that he earned by endorsing a watch company that will go to the troops, NBC5's Natalie Martinez reported.

Sinise's band, the "Lt. Dan Band," named after his soldier's role in "Forrest Gump", will perform July 21 at Cantigny Park in Wheaton. The "Lt. Dan Band" has had several gigs all over the world that have helped raise money. Ticket sales for those shows have also proven to be huge moneymakers for soldiers' causes, Martinez reported. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn bought a ticket for the July show at the news conference.

With Sinise's financial support, Operation Support then handed a $35,000 check to organizers for Fisher House, which is a home for families of injured service members being treated at Hines VA Hospital.

"These homes are there for them to stay free of charge," said Bill Anderson of Fisher House.

Just hours before Sinise's visit, another group of volunteers was hard at work preparing a memorial for those soldiers who did not survive, Martinez reported.

The group, the American Friends Service Committee, prepared more than 500 pairs of combat boots of fallen soldiers that will be part of a national traveling exhibition called "Eyes Wide Open."

The boots will be added to an additional 3,000 pairs that will be displayed in Grant Park over Memorial Day weekend. It will represent all of the lives lost in Iraq.

"This represents just the death toll since January, and it think it's overpowering to see what the cost has been," said Mike McConnell of the American Friends Service Committee.