A King, North Carolina, Marine Corps combat veteran and cancer survivor’s home has received a makeover, thanks to a reality TV series that is dedicated to transforming the homes and lives of military families across the country.
Renovations on Sean Reeves’ home will be featured on
airing on Aug. 22 at 7:30 a.m. ET/PT on Lifetime TV. The show features Navy veteran, author and TV personality Montel Williams traveling across the country to honor veterans by transforming their homes.
"The story of the Reeves family is one of resilience and commitment to community," said Nicole Oropesa, President of BrandStar Entertainment, in a statement. "Through Military Makeover with Montel, we are honored to recognize and uplift a family who truly embodies the heart of service to their fellow veterans."
Reeves enlisted in the Marines following his 2008 high school graduation in response to the Sept. 11 terror attacks. He served as an infantry rifleman with the First Battalion, Second Marines and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010.
During Operation Northern Penetration, Reeves sustained a traumatic brain injury and three gunshot wounds resulting from an improvised explosive device detonation and subsequent ambush. Despite his injuries, he continued his military service until his medical retirement in 2011. For his actions, Reeves was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, NATO Medal ISAF Afghanistan, and the Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon, among others.
Military Makeover, along with its collaborator Purple Heart Homes, a non-profit working to create safe housing solutions for service-connected disabled veterans, selected Revves’ home for the renovations.
And Reeves’ community quickly rallied around the cause. Williams told Connecting Vets that dozens of people from the King community came out to lend a hand with the renovations.
“Whether we like it or not, whether we believe it or not, we are more united as a nation than we think,” Williams told Connecting Vets. “King is an example of that.”
At midnight on the Saturday night before the Reeves project was slated to be revealed, 25 volunteers were on site, working to complete the renovations.
“It was great,” recalled Williams.
Military Makeover renovations are completed in just 10 days, Williams said. The reveal at the Reeves home was filmed on June 22.
“We do the entire home,” he said. “It requires a lot of help, a lot of volunteers. Contractors, subcontractors come in.”
Williams urged the public to honor the sacrifices made by veterans, which he said are not always visible and may last a lifetime and to demonstrate appreciation beyond a simple “thank you for service.”
“Any time there’s a veteran in our community in need, we need to reach out,” he said.
Reeves is currently employed as a care coordinator at Veterans Bridge Home, providing support to veterans and their families as they navigate challenging transitions.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.