Paramount to Pay Tribute to Veterans, Benghazi Victims at ’13 Hours’ World Premiere

"13 Hours" (Paramount)
Paramount

Paramount Pictures will pay tribute to America’s men and women in uniform at the world premiere of 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Tuesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, by encouraging attendees to donate to to a variety of veterans’ organizations.

Directed by Michael Bay, 13 Hours follows six members of the security team that defended the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi from an attack by Islamist militants. The men on the security team will also be honored at the premiere, as will those who lost their lives, according to a Paramount press release:

The night will honor the real-life heroes who lost their lives on September 11, 2012, including veteran Navy SEALs Tyrone ‘Rone’ Woods and Glen ‘Bub’ Doherty; Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens; veteran Air Force airman, Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith; along with the brave men who have shared their story of what happened that day, including veteran Marines Dave ‘D.B.’ Benton, Mark ‘Oz’ Geist and John ‘Tig’ Tiegen; veteran Army Ranger Kris ‘Tanto’ Paronto; veteran Navy SEAL Jack Silva; and their families.

Bay will join cast members James Badge Dale, John Krasinski, Max Martini, Pablo Schreiber, Toby Stephens, Dominic Fumusa, David Denman, David Costabile, and Alexia Barlier at the premiere.

Additionally, the event will feature special music performances from the country group The Band Perry and the rock band Madison Rising, which is led by Navy veteran Dave Bray.

According to Fox News, Bray’s song “Till the Sun Comes Back Around” with former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell is featured in the film.

In the press release, Paramount announced guests at the premiere will be encouraged to make a $1 donation to benefit veterans’ organizations, including The Shadow Warriors Project Fund of The Dallas Foundation, Fisher House Foundation, the Navy SEAL Museum, and other charitable groups designated by the survivors and the families of those lost that night.

Paramount has promised to match all funds raised.

Watch a trailer for 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi below:

In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News on Jan. 12, Kris ‘Tanto’ Paronto sat down to discuss both his role at Benghazi and the upcoming movie.

Praising 13 Hours, Paronto told Breitbart’s Michelle Moons, “It’s very representative of what our perceptions were on the ground… It doesn’t get into the political foray. It doesn’t get in the political realm. Honestly, the truth doesn’t need to get political.”

Paronto also told Moons that Michael Bay accurately portrayed both the events of Benghazi and the brotherhood shared by those on the ground.

Paronto also spoke to Breitbart on Tuesday about Paramount’s decision to honor veterans at the premiere.

“Paramount has been so supportive of veterans,” he said. “They’re the only studio out there I believe that overtly supports veterans. They have been so supportive and respectful.”

Praising both the studio and Michael Bay, Paronto added, “They have treated us better than they have the actors.”

The film will be released nationwide on Jan. 15.

COMMENTS

Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.