McConnell Airmen volunteer support for 'Extreme Makeover' show

Published Feb. 24, 2011
By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE,Kan. -- Braving erratic Wichita, Kan., weather, Team McConnell members recently volunteered to help build a new home as for a local hero as part of the ABC-TV series, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

More than15 McConnell members and hundreds of other volunteers from the community helped clear and prepare the construction site for the new home of Carl Hall, a former baseball player for Wichita State University, his wife and four children.

The new home is meant to accommodate Mr. Hall, who became a quadriplegic in a car accident in June 2010.

Unlike most of the local volunteers, McConnell members were recommended by Matt Swanson, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" project manager.

"I have travelled to many places and I called McConnell because the military is always in good spirits, loves to serve and follows orders," he said.

While there, Airmen helped shovel gravel to prepare for laying the home's foundation and helped install a sewage system and elevators to accommodate the wheelchair-bound Mr. Hall. This work was all completed after normal duty hours, beginning Feb. 17, 2011. Despite the hard work throughout the following week, McConnell volunteers enjoyed the experience.

"It was a great time and I felt great to give something to it," said Staff Sgt. Amanda Rempel, 22nd Operations Support Squadron Combined Squadrons Operations Center NCOIC. "Even though I have no experience in building homes, it felt great to have at least been able to do that and to see the project from the very start."

Another McConnell volunteer, Maj. Gregory Huhmann, 22nd OSS Operations Support Training deputy chief, was confident about McConnell's contribution to the site.

"I think we went above and beyond. It seemed like we had more volunteers than work for most of the night, but I guess that's a good problem," he said.

Because of the show's involvement in showcasing McConnell's mission, five "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" crew members were part of an orientation flight. While high above Kansas, the show's crew members were also able to enjoy watching an in-flight air refueling.

"I really enjoyed this because it's something I never get to do, especially riding in the cockpit," Mr. Swanson said. "I love seeing what [McConnell] does."

Mr. Hall and his family, who spent the week in Orlando, Fla., during the construction, returned for the "big reveal" of their new home Feb. 25. The family's reaction and the full cast and crew will be seen on the show's season finale for 2011.

The experience left a mark on many of the McConnell volunteers.

"While each of us volunteering felt like we could have done more for a family in dire need, it was nice knowing we contributed in some small way," said 1st Lt. Andrew Nation, 349th Air Refueling Squadron readiness officer. "This experience reminded me how fortunate we all are and was another example of how our fellow Air Force members are always there in numbers to help those who need it most."