Photo: Kyle McMahon
Esai Morales & Gary Sinise on Honoring Our Heroes on the PBS special, National Memorial Day Concert 2025.
As the host of Pop Culture Weekly, I’ve had the immense privilege of covering the National Memorial Day Concert from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for years. Each time, I'm struck by the genuine respect and heartfelt dedication of everyone involved. This year, my conversation with co-hosts Esai Morales and Gary Sinise truly encapsulated the profound meaning of this important day. From the moment we started talking, you'll see that for both of them, this concert is far more than just an event - it's a solemn duty and a deeply personal tribute.
Photo: Filip Shobot
Esai Morales (Mission: Impossible - Final Reckoning), spoke about his role in National Memorial Day Concert with a humility that really resonated with me. He described his hosting duties as his "humble way to bring the attention that I get and focus it on real heroes." He put it so simply, yet so powerfully, "We're make-believe heroes. These folks have given it all." In a world often captivated by celebrity, to hear a respected actor so clearly shift the spotlight to those who've made the ultimate sacrifice was incredibly moving. It’s a profound acknowledgment of the true heroes in our society. Most of whom we'll never even know their name.
Gary Sinise, whose endless work with veterans and military families through the Gary Sinise Foundation is well-known, echoed Esai's sentiments with his characteristic sincerity. Him and I have talked before about how easy it is for Memorial Day weekend to become just about "the ballgame and the barbecue and the backyard pool and the day off." But Gary firmly reminded us that "this weekend is one of our most important holidays that our nation cherishes because of the people that have sacrificed over the many years to keep us free." That's the core of it, isn't it? This concert, as he said, "highlights those sacrifices and brings into the consciousness of our fellow citizens that there are a lot of people that have given their lives in service to our country and we should never forget them."
Photo: Capitol Concerts
Speaking with Esai and Gary is a reminder of the authentic, heartfelt respect that so many hold for our fallen heroes. Their dedication in hosting the National Memorial Day Concert helps ensure that the sacrifices of our brave men and women are never forgotten.
I urge you to watch the National Memorial Day Concert 2025. It airs live on PBS, Facebook, and YouTube on Sunday, May 25th at 8 PM EST. If you miss the live broadcast, it will be available on demand for two weeks after. It's a powerful, moving, and essential tribute and I know you won't regret watching.
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