Concert delayed, but storm doesn't deter fans

link Staff Photo: Anna George

Molly Callinan, left, vocals for the Lt. Dan Band, and Gary Sinise, electronic bass and leader for the Gary Sinise Foundation, jam on Saturday at the Open House for Cannon Air Force Base.

Staff Writer

[email protected]

People ran for cover, then grooved it out Saturday at the Cannon Air Force Base Open House when a Lt. Dan Band performance was postponed to 7 p.m. due to storms.

Lightning within a 5-mile radius forced attendees to wait under hangars. This eventually became hail and rain that kept people occupied for hours.

The band was finally able to perform under a hangar, rather than on the stage as originally planned, three hours after the initial planned time. This, however, did not deter fans.

Katrina Najera and Bethany Beach, sisters in a golden heart family who lost their brother in Afghanistan, said they stayed for the show because Gary Sinise is important to their family.

Following the passing of their brother, Sgt. Robert Kassin, in 2006, Sinise met with the sisters’ niece. He hugged their niece and gave her his signature, knowing that he could not stop the hurting, Najera said.

He did this as part of The Gary Sinise Foundation, a nonprofit that works to better the quality of life for veterans.

“He is the most caring and giving man for the gold star families,” Najera said. “Or for the military in general.”

On Saturday, Najera’s father, Robert Kassin Sr., was ushered in as a welcomed guest by Sinise, Najera said. He was able to take pictures with Sinise and get his autograph.

Nicole Warner said she stayed for the show for that very reason.

Warner said during her previous two pregnancies, she was able to get a photo with celebrities. Now nine months and two weeks pregnant, she got a photo with Sinise just in time to complete the triad.

Warner said she was also excited because Sinise and his band put on a great show. She said she saw them while her family was in Japan. She recognized every song and got to watch her two sons, now 4 and 2, dance, laugh, and have fun, she said.

“He’s a really cool performer,” Warner said.

Vanessa Pacheco, 12, said his ability to keep the audience entertained was her favorite part.

“I really liked the interaction with the kids,” Pacheco said, referring to Sinise bringing all the kids up with the band for their performance of “Life is a Highway.”

She said the performance brought the hangar alive. She said it was everything she expected.

“Because of the setback from the rain, it turned out to be a huge success,” Pacheco said.