April 21, 2005- EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION - "PIESTEWA FAMILY PART 1" & "PIESTEWA FAMILY PART 2" - TWO HOUR SEASON FINALE -- SUNDAY, MAY 22 (7:00-8:00 & 8:00--9:00 p.m., ET) - (This family was nominated to EM:HE by PFC Jessica Lynch, who was on site for the build.) When PFC Lori Piestewa was in Iraq, she told her roommate and best friend, PFC Jessica Lynch, that her dream was to return to her home in Tuba City, Arizona and build her parents a house to which they could retire. But in March 2003, Lori lost her life, becoming the first American woman killed in the Iraq war, while trying to save the lives of her friends, Jessica Lynch and Shoshannah Johnson, when her Humvee was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. The 23-year-old divorced mother left behind two young children, Brandon (6) and Carla Whiterock (5), who are being cared for by Lori's parents, Percy and Terry Piestewa. Currently the family lives in a small, rented mobile home on a reservation in Tuba City, Arizona. The design team built a new house for them in a mere seven days in Flagstaff, Arizona - where they can be closer to family -- on land donated by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Additionally, the design team, workers and volunteers from "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will also be building a Veteran's Memorial Center on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba City, on land belonging to the Navajo Nation. The building is for Native Americans who served in the armed services. While the building takes place, the Piestewas and their grandchildren will be on vacation at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Indianz.Com > News > Piestewa family to appear on 'Extreme Makeover'
The family of Lori Piestewa, the Hopi woman killed in action in Iraq, will appear on the season finale of the ABC television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." The Piestewas are the first Native American family to appear on the show. They were informed of their participation this morning. "Lori was proud of her Hopi heritage and taught all those who knew her about the great riches of her culture. We knew that to ignore that culture in the show would be a great disservice to the Piestewa family and to Lori's memory," said show producer Andy Lipson With the help of National Congress of American Indians, the program obtained financial support and sponsorship from the Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Nation and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians from California. This is the first time tribes have assisted with the show. "Our tribe strongly believes in the importance of community and helping our tribal brothers and sisters, and Extreme Makeover is all about building a better home and life for families in need," said Deron Marquez, the chairman of the San Manuel Band. The Piestewas live in Tuba City, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation. Their new home will be located in Flagstaff, off the reservation. Construction of the new home began immediately as the family was sent on a vacation courtesy of the program. According to Shea Homes, a total of 1,300 people will be working around the clock in order to "reveal" the home on April 19. The Piestewa finale will air on May 22. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" airs every Sunday at 8pm EST. Relevant Links:
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome Friday, April 01, 2005 Two Friends - Two Years Later
A "feel good" story!
Native Unity
Phoenix, Arizona – March 23rd, 2005
In a touching tribute to Pfc. Lori Piestewa, her sister soldier and best friend, Jessica Lynch, 21, stood at the base of Piestwea Peak with Lori’s family during a sunrise memorial service marking the second anniversary of the attack in southern Iraq that killed Piestewa and seriously wounded Lynch.
A single mother of two and member of the Hopi tribe, Piestewa was the first female Native American service member to be killed in combat. She was 23.
Piestewa and Lynch served together in the 507th Maintenance company based at Fort Bliss Texas. They roomed together at the base and later shared a tent in Iraq. They became best friends.
“We were so close that we felt we were like family.” Lynch said. “We were completely different but at the same time the difference is why we got along so well.
The wounded Lynch was held a prisoner of war until her dramatic rescue by a US combat team from an Iraqi hospital. She became an instant celebrity and the Iraq War “poster girl” for the Bush administration until it realized the young blonde from the hills of West Virginia had a mind of her own. She wrote her version about her ordeal with proceeds from the book creating a foundation to aid the Piestewa children.
At Wednesday’s service, Native American tribes, Piestewa’s parents and her two children, Brendan, six and Carla five, embraced Lynch as one of their own and the closest living link to their heroine.
Lynch sat composed and quiet with the family in a seat of honor. Piestewa’s mother, Terry, had her arm around Lynch’s shoulders. When Lynch rose to speak, using a cane for support, Piestewa’s father, Percy, gave her his hand.
Every day, Lynch said, she questions why she survived and Piestewa did not. She wishes she could tell friend she is studying to be a kindergarten teacher.
Lynch added she learned some lessons from Piestewa that saved her life: Be a stronger person and never give up. “I believe that with the help from her is why I am alive today.”
Mitake Oyasin – We are all related!
This story has been edited for content and length from a story bylined Emily Bittner, The Arizona Republic, Thursday, March 24th.
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