James Terpenning waves to volunteers and onlookers after seeing his new home unveiled
as part of the television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
(U.S. Air Force photo/Ron Fry)
Posted on 08/10/2009 4:37:10 PM PDT by SandRat
8/10/2009 - BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (AFNS) -- Amid a hearty "welcome home" shout-out from Airmen and volunteers, an employee from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, fought back tears as he and his family saw their new, custom-built home for the first time Aug. 6 here.
James Terpenning, a civilian computer specialist, received the house after being selected by producers of the popular ABC-TV series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," which is an Emmy award winning reality television series that provides home renovations for deserving families.
Mr. Terpenning, who is confined to a wheelchair, said the experience was a dream come true.
"We have a new life now with a nice new home," he said.
Fellow workers at the base nominated Mr. Terpenning for the show and he was chosen July 30. Two days later, Air Force volunteers pitched in to begin demolition of the family's former home. In just five days, a new house was built complete with a backyard playground and a freshly-sod lawn.
Air Force volunteers worked throughout the week, doing everything from helping lay drainage pipes to wading through ankle-deep mud during a driving rain to assist with landscaping.
Many of those volunteers were on hand Aug. 6 to greet the Terpenning family. Among them were Lt. Gen. John L. "Jack" Hudson, the Aeronautical Systems Center commander, and retired Col. Sue Busler, who kicked off the effort to nominate the family for the show.
"They definitely define the term 'wingman,'" said Mr. Terpenning who wore a shirt emblazoned with an eagle and stars and stripes. "This experience showed that the Air Force takes care of its own. I am so proud to be part of the Air Force."
After the Terpenning family toured their new home with the show's host, Ty Pennington, they watched from their backyard as a C-5 Galaxy from Wright-Patterson AFB rumbled overhead. It reminded Mr. Terpenning of his first experience with the Air Force some 34 years ago.
As a young orphan, he was airlifted from Vietnam as part of the Operation Babylift. He was among an estimated 2,500 children flown to safety in the final days of the Vietnam War. He suffered from polio as a youth and was adopted by an Ohio family.
"The Air Force saved my life once and it stepped up to help my family again," he said.
As work on their new home began, the Terpennings were whisked off to Florida for a vacation that was paid for by the show's producers. They returned in a black stretch limousine to find the familiar "Extreme Makeover" bus parked in front of their house. As a crowd of thousands of neighbors, building contractors and volunteers chanted "Move that bus!," Mr. Terpenning, his wife, Shannon, their four children and his wheelchair-bound brother watched as the show's big bus pulled away to reveal the new, country-style house.
After the initial shock passed, Mr. Terpenning wheeled along the edge of the crowd high-fiving co-workers and other volunteers as the show's many cameramen followed his every move.
The episode featuring the Terpennings is scheduled to air this fall.
"The Air Force and Department of Defense approved participation in 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' because it offered the unique opportunity to showcase Airmen supporting a worthy humanitarian effort," said Capt. Bryon McGarry, the deputy director of the Air Force Entertainment Office in Los Angeles. "Entertainment media provides the Air Force very real opportunities to build awareness, educate and inform the American public about its Airmen, and this hugely popular show served as a vehicle to do just that on a significant stage."
James Terpenning waves to volunteers and onlookers after seeing his new home unveiled
as part of the television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
(U.S. Air Force photo/Ron Fry)
Ahhhhh. That is so nice.
Nice story.
That’s a sweet story.
Not to be a wet blanket, but I hope he can hang onto the house. My understanding is that some of the people who are recipients of these “extreme makeover” houses end up losing them because the property taxes and maintenance are increased several-fold. The recipients are already financially challenged or they would be getting a makeover as a donation, and an increase in taxes ruins them.
I also wonder if getting a gift of that magnitude makes it taxable from the standpoint of the IRS.
That makes me proud of the twelve years of active duty in the Air Force. Not that I was not already proud.
Yes!!!
Yes!!!
There is one a few miles away from me. The lady ran a used clothing charity out of her home that had no electricity. Her very small house was severely impacted by age and the hurricanes that battered Central Florida in 2004.
Anyhow, the property sat right at the edge of a part of town that borders commercial and backs-up to very low income.
So they built her a house. It was pretty amazing to see them do it. Mercedes Homes did it so the walls are all poured concrete. Very nice house.
One thing led to another and the city starting fining her daily for running her charity out of her house and storing the clothes there too. Not sure on the particulars but I’m pretty sure they knew she was going to continue it.
Drove by the other and it looks abandoned. Certainly not the hub of activity it was with her running her business there.
My Dad was in the Air Force and flew the Burma Hump.
Be proud.
I somewhat recall that episode. Wasn’t there a separate building or a separate part of the house that was designed just for the charity? If it were part of the house, wouldn’t you think the city was contacted prior to the plans to see if the charity from the house would be allowed?
It’s a crying shame that someone like that lady who has a heart for this was shut down by government. Granted, I don’t know the particulars, but it strikes me as a typical government stance: If you’re not Big Brother, you’re not allowed to show charity towards others.
Happened just a few miles away. The family now has a beautiful home that accommodates James and his brother, both in wheelchairs, as well as James’ wife and children. A great benefit to the community is that it brings lots of people together in a common effort to improve a family’s life. This particular family seemed genuinely deserving and grateful.
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