Local Airman reunites with fiance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Adrian Marquez had but one wish for Thanksgiving--to have her fiancé home for the holiday. 

Ms. Marquez, a 22-year-old college student from Whittier, Calif., is engaged to Senior Airman Joe Alarcon, a pharmacy technician with the 96th Medical Group here. She decided not to pin her hopes on the turkey's wishbone; instead she turned to a popular daytime talk show host to make her wish come true. 

Ms. Marques wrote into the Ellen DeGeneres website, explaining that she and Airman Alarcon have never spent a holiday together and asked if there was any way intervene. The couple met four years ago and have been dating long distance for the past three years. She hoped that the producers would fly her to Florida to see her Airman. They did one better than that. 

A telephone call from show producer Nov. 13 to Public Affairs here set the wheels in motion. The show wanted to fly Airman Alarcon to Los Angeles to tape a reunion between the couple four days later. They also wanted to fly him back to L.A. to spend Thanksgiving with Adrian. 

Chief Master Sgt. Jorge Betancur, superintendent of the Medical Support Squadron work quickly with the pharmacy staff to arrange leave for Airman Alarcon so he could make the taping. The Airman wasn't clued in until producer called to invite him to the Los Angeles. The shocked Airman could only imagine the whirlwind the next few days would bring. 

The producers arranged a flight Monday night from Pensacola to Los Angeles. Airman Alarcon was whisked from the airport by limousine to a hotel for a night's rest before the taping on Tuesday. The limo brought him to the Universal sound stage to his own dressing room, which was right next to another guest, John Travolta. 

"I got a chance to shake his hand right before going on the air," Airman Alarcon said.
Adrian was "chosen" from the audience to play a game with Ellen. She didn't know the prize behind the door was her fiancé. When the door opened, there stood Airman Alarcon, bouquet in hand, to greet her. 

"I can't believe you're here," Adrian said. "This is awesome." 

The reunion was over quickly, but not before Ellen grabbed the Airman's arm and whispered to him, "Thanks for all you do." It was a fitting tribute for an Airman who is the Air Force's Pharmacy Technician of the Year. 

Even though this episode of the Ellen DeGeneres show airs Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. locally, the adventure is not over for the couple. The producers will fly Airman Alarcon back to L.A. in time for Thanksgiving. The show is paying for two nights at the Four Seasons Hotel and providing a catered Thankgiving for 15, just enough seats for both families. The only catch is Adrian is responsible for the taxes--which are being paid gladly. 

"It's awesome, they really hooked us up," Airman Alarcon said. "They are really nice people."