Actor Peter Facinelli, currently featured in the blockbuster movie “Twilight,” was busy boosting the morale of Soldiers and their Families at the Ft. Lewis Post Exchange this weekend. In fact, if Facinelli were employed by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, he probably would be due some overtime pay as he cheerfully hosted more than 5,000 fans during a marathon autograph session that stretched from Saturday to early Sunday morning.
“I think he might be taking home the store’s employee of the month award for March,” said the Ft. Lewis PX’s General Manager Pat McGhee. “He started meeting fans at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and didn’t stop until early Sunday morning. I’ve never seen anything like it. Peter not only signed ‘Twilight’ Blu-Rays and DVDs, memorabilia and personal affects, but literally took pictures with anyone who asked.”
Originally schedule to last just two hours Saturday afternoon, Facinelli’s visit to the PX finally wrapped up at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, some 16 and a half hours after it started. The appearance at the exchange capped off a whirlwind three day tour of Ft. Lewis that had Facinelli meeting troops from the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, talking with more than 100 military children at a local prep school and taking part in a question and answer session with some 1,000 fans at a free screening of the Twilight movie Friday night.
“Having the star of a runaway hit come to the store on the day the film becomes available is unbelievable,” said McGhee. “Needless to say, every copy of ‘Twilight’ that was on the PX’s shelves are long gone.”
LTG Jacoby awarded the Twilight star with a Commander’s coin. LTG Jacoby asked Facinelli if he would visit the troops in Iraq and Facinelli responded by saying that he was only a movie star and that LTG Jacoby was a three star so he had no choice but to follow the order.
Facinelli was more than gracious with his time and to the people that came to see him. McGhee said Facinelli would take a fan cell phone and start talking to their friends and then when the other person figured out it was Facinelli they started screaming on the phone. Facinelli, at one point asked that Ft. Lewis PX management move parents with infants to the front of the line when it was getting late so they could get their babies home. Facinelli shook every soldier’s hand and stated thank you for what you do; soldiers would get emotional when this happened.
“I have hosted over 2,000 celebrity appearances in my career with AAFES and I have met some really cool and down to earth people but Peter is in a class by himself, I do not believe in the history of celebrity appearances that ONE PERSON signed 16.5 hours NON STOP in ONE DAY! If someone claims they did well I would like for them to prove it,” said McGhee.
AAFES is lucky to have hosted Facinelli at Ft. Lewis PX and HQ. Thank you to all the celebrities who give us a smile and a shout-out to the troops in tough times!
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What a class act. 16 hours straight when it was scheduled as a two hour gig? A big ‘Hooah’ to Facinelli!! I’ll pass this story to everyone I can.
Thank you for this story! As an Army brat and a huge fan of the Twilight series I am so impressed with Peter and what he did this weekend! I was a big fan of his before this now he’s #1 on my list! Bravo!!!
Wow.
As the wife of a former soldier and also both an Army Mom and a Twilight Mom I can’t begin to express how wonderful it is to hear of someone being so kind and generous with our military families. Peter, you are truly one class act! I’m proud to be a fan! Thank you so much.
to say that facinelli went above and beyond is stating the obvious, but what an incredible way to truly say thank you to the troops and their families. his kindness and sincerity shines through. well done and hats off to him!
As a marine wife Ijust want to say “what a gentelman Peter is and it is awesome that he took all of the time well really the whole weekend to spend it with our troops” I love the Twilight books and like Amy said above he is now up on the top of my list too. Semper Fi!
I just want to say how proud and grateful I am for our troops and for Peter Facinelli taking so much time to show them how proud we all are of them and their families. I am a teacher, and soldiers are the role models our young people should be looking up to and Peter’s example is also a fine one for them to see.
I am a huge Twilight fan, and I have to say that it seems that the whole cast are great people, who love their fans.
Thanks for showing our troops lots of love, Peter! Carlisle would be proud.
AWESOME. I love reading about celebrities who are good to fans… especially when they go totally beyond what you expect. Bonus points for supporting the troops, Peter!
What a wonderful thing for Peter Facinelli to do. I commend this actor on this wonderful act of kindness to those who serve our country. I agree, he is a CLASS ACT among actors. Wonderful job, Peter!
Thank you so much Peter, Military families would never forget your kindness. What a classy and gracious man! *standing ovation for Peter*
OME! That is unbelievable! Im in shock! I cannot believe he is that dedicated! Go Peter!
Now I am team “Carlisle” your are number # 1 in my list
As an AF veteran, I was thrilled to see this story. While Facinelli may have only visited one base, the military community as a whole will share in the excitement. The actions of one person can mean a lot in a tight-knit family like the military. Thanks, Peter for sharing your time.
I too love the Twilight books and I’m so impressed with Peter and love him for it !
What an awesome guy! And thanks to all of our troops!!
This is absolutely heart warming. As an army child/sister and future member of the Canadian Forces, this is one of the nicest Twilight-related articles I’ve read so far. I hope more of the series’ stars do a visit like this. Our troops (Canadian and American) need morale boosters like this much more often.
Wear a yellow ribbon to show your support for the troops!
)
Peter Facinelli has definitely proved what an amazing man he is. Even though I was not there, I appreciate him for what he did.
Wow, what a great guy. Peter, I am a even bigger fan now.
You are truly a beautiful person for what you did for the troops and their families. You deserve a gold star. I loved you in the movie. Can’t wait to see you in the next one.
I just think that is awesome. Being a Army wife and a twilight mom, I find this to be amazing. I really appreciate what he did for the morale of our soldiers and their families at Ft. Lewis. Even though we’re not stationed there, I just wanted to tell him thank you..
That was really nice of him. I’m not a huge Twilight fan but that was REALLY nice. Cu dos to you, Peter Facinelli.
U are awesome Peter omg i luv u even more now even thought that isn’t really possible, you are the hot topic of my friends and my day we talk about you non stop. I wish i was there so bad! i want an autograph and picture I would do anything for that!! Great job, u are so nice!
WOW! This story would warm even a vampire’s cold heart! Thank you, Peter and thanks for sharing.
Team Carlisle!!!Wow that’s amazing and kind!!!I’m truly a fan now!
Where Is He Signing All The Autographs? In Los Angeles?
OH MY PETER! i had no idea this handsome gentleman was incredibely generous. He is such a fine man. Not only he is extremely good looking, he is also very very kind! I love Peter Facinelli the world should have more people like him. How wonderful the world would be..
I wish I could meet him someday in my life. I’ve met Taylor Lautner, who plays Jacob Black in the movie Twilght, but his poster signing only lasted for 2 hours or so. And they did not allow cameras in the room.
How wonderful is Peter Facinelli? Im very impressed…
I am amazed. And touched.
What Peter did for those fans…its very Carlisle – like.
I am a Peter Facinelli fan for life now!
Thank you for sharing this story!
Go Team Carlisle!
If anyone deserves such attention it is our service men and women and their families. And how refreshing that a star exhibits kindness and humbleness. Peter, your star will rise even higher!
You the man DOC ah Pete….
need more people like him in this world:)
He is such a nice down to earth man!!!! Not hard to look at either!!!!
Peter is really sweet and awesome. I mean I have NEVER heard of just ONE celebrity signing autograph secion for 16.5 HRS!!!! I mean he must be the hard working’s, fan appericiating person.Everyone says they appriciate there fan following but Peter has TOTALLY paid it back to the fans but he is still going to keep going to autograph secions. I mean this is really amazing!! Peter is sooooooooo sweet, nice and he is totally appriceiating his fans:)!!!!!
I just came across this story and I was at the PX that day just shopping…it was a mad house and I have never seen a line go so far! What I wanted to add to this story is that not only did he stay at the PX for 16 hours, but a few of his cast mates took the time to to go to our local movie theatre on thier own time Friday and Saturday night to sign autographs for all of those who went to see the Twilight movie that weekend….they all went way out of their way that weekend for their military fans and I was beyond impressed by them. The fact they did it without the publicity that most stars coming to such events require was even more impressive!