Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich Make Hero's Day
Gretchen and Big & Rich surprised Air Force veteran Shaun Meadows with a new house
09/2011; On a beautiful night at The Woods Amphitheater at Fontanel where temperatures approached triple-digits, Xtreme Muzik The Tour co-headliners Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich raised the mercury even higher not just with their sold-out show of hit after hit, but with their hearts as well. Halfway through their thunderous set, which rarely saw either act leave the stage, Gretchen and Big & Rich surprised Air Force veteran Shaun Meadows with a new house from their own proceeds from the evening and Operation FINALLY HOME.

A member of the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, Meadows lost both legs in July 2008 during a combat reconnaissance patrol in Afghanistan when he was hit by an improvised explosive device. Last year, he became the first active-duty double amputee in Air Force history to successfully perform a personnel drop (skydive).

An Air Force Color Guard entered the stage, as the band played a Jimi Hendrix-style “Star Spangled Banner.” The artists introduced Meadows, his wife and son, and WSMV news anchor Jonathan Martin gave them the big news that a custom-built new home will be constructed in the Nashville area beginning in November. Award-winning builder Goodall Homes has committed to build the home and Nashville-based LP Building Products will serve as lead sponsor, donating materials for the project. The home build can be followed on FinallyHomeTN.com or at Facebook/FinallyHomeTN.

Operation FINALLY HOME, is a 501(c)3 organization that provides custom-made homes to wounded and disabled veterans as well as to widows of the fallen in an effort to get their lives back on track. Run by retired U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel Vargas, Operation FINALLY HOME out of New Braunfels, Texas, the program was born out of the Bay Area Builders Association Support Our Troops program.

Prior to the concert, Big Kenny, CMSgt Steph Page and Meadows, along with Team Fastrax Professional Skydiving Team kicked off the evening by skydiving high above the venue and landing in the meadow at Fontanel.

Xtreme Muzik The Tour heads west this week through September, with dates in Nevada, Arizona, Utah, California, Oregon and Washington. The first leg of the tour wraps up in Canada the end of the month, with four dates across British Columbia.

To find out more about Operation FINALLY HOME check out www.babasupport.org



Special tactics squadron double amputee makes historic jump
Staff Sgt. Shaun Meadows shares a laugh with his son after completing his jump June 14, 2010. Sergeant Meadows is assigned to the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Staff Sgt. Shaun Meadows prepares to land as he completes a his jump on June 14, 2010.
Special Thanks to Al Avalo and the Combat Control Association

6/16/2010 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AFNS) -- Air Force history was made June 15, when a wounded warrior from the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron became the first active-duty double amputee to successfully participate in a personnel drop.

Staff Sgt. Shaun Meadows, along with 39 of his co-workers, conducted a practice parachute jump from a C-17 Globemaster III, in preparation for a change of command ceremony.

The Combat Controller lost both legs during a combat reconnaissance patrol in Afghanistan when his convoy hit an improvised explosive device in July 2008.

"It's a huge accomplishment for Shaun to come back from being injured on a mission and to then go up in the air again," said Master Sgt. Angela Fernandez, the 22nd STS first sergeant. "He's doing what he loves."

The practice exercise is the first jump Sergeant Meadows has participated in since his injury.

"Today is significant because we're all very close to Shaun," said Lt. Col. Bryan Cannady, the 22nd STS commander. "It's very much like a brotherhood. We're all glad to be here for him and support him."

Sergeant Meadows will also be participating in the 22nd STS change of command ceremony, which will be his last jump before he separates from the Air Force.

"Shaun's spirit and desire to do this made us believe we could get it done," said Colonel Cannady. "It's an honor, not just for me, but for every guy out there to be doing this today."

Sergeant Meadows' co-workers said he hasn't allowed his injury to hold him back or keep him from doing his job.

"Shaun is the epitome of positive," said Sergeant Fernandez. "He always walks into work with a smile on his face and makes us laugh."

Sergeant Meadows said he's happy to participate in operations again.

"Everything went well today," Sergeant Meadows said. "It felt good to get up there and jump again after two years."
 



Air Force Wounded Warrior parachutes

 
Staff Sgt. Shaun Meadows, 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, the first Active Duty double amputee in Air Force history to successfully perform a personnel drop, will lead members of his unit’s command element as they parachute onto McChord Field as part of the 22ndSpecial Tactics Squadron change of command ceremony June 16, 10 a.m.
Published: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 9:07 AM PDT

During the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron change of command ceremony Lt. Col. Michael J. Flatten will assume command from Lt. Col. Bryan H. Cannady. Cannady assumed command of the 22nd STS June 2008 and will be reassigned to Joint Staff in Washington, D.C.  Flatten, a Texas A&M graduate comes to JBLM from his most recent assignment with the Headquarters, Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlbert Field, Fla.

Background on SSgt. Shaun Meadows:

Meadows made Air Force history this Monday, as the first active duty Airman and double amputee, by successfully performing a parachute jump as part of a 40 member C-17 personnel drop at JBLM McChord Field.  Monday’s jump was a practice exercise for Wednesday’s ceremony, and was Meadows’ first jump since his injury. Wednesday’s jump will be his last jump before he separates from the Air Force.

Meadows lost both of his legs in late July 2008 during a combat reconnaissance patrol in Afghanistan when he was hit by an improvised explosive device.