The 42nd Force Support Squadron (42nd FSS) Heritage Room was a project that was completed through volunteer service by myself and Gail White. Along with designing the room, I was the project manager, primary carpenter, electrician, and programmer.
A Heritage Room is typically an aviation tradition where pilots go to socialize. The room also displays and celebrates the history of the Squadron. The 42nd FSS heritage room is located in a section of the basement below the Maxwell Air Force Base Club.
When I was offered the project I was given four stipulations. The first was there could be no use of government funds. Second, all work had to be self-help. Third, the room had to incorporate the Squadron’s theme of Star Wars. The fourth and final stipulation, it had to be done before the commander left the base for her next assignment. This left us only 5 months. We met all the stipulations.
Most of the aesthetic features were built from old headboards that were going to be thrown away due to damage. The rest of the supplies were spare materials from personal projects, gathered from construction areas across the base, or bought/donated by members of the squadron. We also collected $1,200 in donations from the squadron to spend on new materials.
In the end, I invested 1500 volunteer hours on the space with an equal amount of time put in from Gail White.