Chamber of Commerce

Extreme Civic Pride A s if getting a brand new, no-luxury- spared home wasn't enough, Fayette- ville resident Barbara Marshall got the surprise of her life on July 22, 2011 when televi- sion star Ty Pennington yelled "Move that Bus!". Not only did Marshall get her first glimpse of her new dream home,but the First Lady of the United States was there to greet her, as well. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" came to Fayetteville to build a home for Marshall, the founder of the Steps N Stages Jubilee House for homeless women veterans. The theme for the show was "Heroes, Hearts and Hardhats" and Marshall is a 15-year Navy veteran and former chaplain. In just a week's time, with volunteers working around the clock, Marshall's old house was torn down and replaced with a custom-built, two story, log cabin-style home, crafted by Blue Ridge Log Cabins of South Carolina. The exterior of the house features split wood beams, is trimmed in white and boasts red shutters and a heavy wooden barn-style door and a line of white rocking chairs on the wide front porch and on the second floor balcony. The overall effect is very welcoming and patriotic. A crowd of about 1,500 onlookers gath- ered and braved 100-plus degree heat for hours in order to see Michelle Obama and the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" crew re- veal the house to Marshall. Mrs. Obama spent a great deal of time touring the house, particularly an elabo- rate green house in the back, and each time members of the crowd caught even a passing glimpse of her loud cheers erupted. Marshall, in fact, was so excited that when the time came for her to tour her new home — she bolted up the steps and practi- cally ran into the home. Mrs. Obama, howev- er, stayed outside for awhile, shaking hands and greeting many members of the crowd, who likely then felt that their all day wait had been well worth it. H All-American Chorus M talented The 82nd Airborne Division's All-American Chorus is a favorite feature at festivals and special occasions in the Fayetteville area — and around the nation. arching unison in to the cadence in crisply starched fatigues, a perfor- mance by the 82nd Airborne Division's All-American Chorus is always a favorite of the Fourth of July fes- tivities at Fort Bragg. Comprised of 26 vocalists, the traveling troupe of a cappella singers are a local favorite. The Chorus members all serve in regular jobs at Fort Bragg, where they also deploy and at- tend mandatory military training throughout the year. "The prestige and honor that the songs convey as the soldiers sing, and to their fallen comrades as they perform at memorial ser- 50 | Accents • 2011 - 2012 vices is most memorable," said the groups General Manager, SFC Dale Schrall. The All-American Chorus first formed in November 1967 to perform in the Division Chapel for Sunday services. Today they trav- el to events not only locally, but around the country as well. Prior to the Fourth of July event on post, the group spent five days in New Orleans at the Essence Music Festival. Recruiting for the All-American Chorus is ongoing and auditions are held when slots become open as soldiers move or leave the Army. Basic criteria to try out is that the service member has two years left of time- in-service in the Army as it is a two year assignment. Though Uncle Sam says they must keep their day jobs, their patriotic tunes are avail- able on compact disc at the Airborne and Spe- cial Operations Museum in downtown Fay- etteville and at Fort Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division Museum, or on iTunes. H First Lady Michelle Obama joined "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Host Ty Pennington in revealing the newly built home to owner Barbara Marshall and some of the Steps N Stages Jubilee House residents.

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