The Gary Sinise Foundation was honored to host an all-veterans cast performing "Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret" at Steppenwolf Theatre, written by and starring Lieutenant Colonel Scott Mann, who served a combat mission in Afghanistan. A touring production championed by the Foundation, they played two incredible performances only on January 20 & 21.

Steppenwolf Co-Founder, our very own Gary Sinise, says, “Nearly 40 years ago, I had the good fortune of directing the Vietnam War drama Tracers at Steppenwolf Theatre. With Vietnam veterans in my own family, it was a personal mission for me to honor them with a great production, to let them and all veterans know that their service to our country was appreciated and that their sacrifices would never be forgotten. My friend, Afghanistan combat veteran LT Colonel (retired) Scott Mann, has written the modern-day equivalent to Tracers. Based on the stories of the men and women he served with, it is a powerful play with an all-veteran cast, and as the Founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation and one of the founders of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, I am honored to present Last Out under our Foundation’s ‘Community and Education’ pillar."

The story and experience were both incredibly unique and powerful for all who attended.

"You're enlightened to the experience of what our men and women do in service," said Gary. "This really speaks to something very profound and very special, and very important, and it's educational for people to see what our current day warriors are going through post-service."

Bringing this story to the theatre Gary helped create was especially gratifying.

"In the beginning, it was just kids wanting to do plays; we loved it, it grew and grew. There were many times along the way, Hosea, when we could have given up. Now we have that massive complex at North and Halsted, in the city of Chicago, a multi-million dollar building. The tenacity and sheer, blind will that it takes to make something happen," said Gary.

VIA ABC 7