Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich Present Air Force Vet With New Home
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 crowd-pleasing 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.
