Chattahoochee Technical College Employee Serves as Movie Extra in ‘The Last Full Measure’

Marcia Sasser, of Canton, comes from a long line of veterans, and to express her deep appreciation for those who put their country first, the Chattahoochee Technical College employee recently served as an extra in “The Last Full Measure,” the untold story of a Vietnam War hero.
Directed by Todd Robinson, “The Last Full Measure” is about a 21-year- old Air Force pararescue specialist, Airman William H. Pitsenbarger Jr., who gave his life in 1966 to save the lives of nine other service members during the Vietnam War. For more than 30 years, the service members whose lives were saved worked tirelessly to have the airman receive the military service’s highest decoration: the Medal of Honor. In 2001, the medal was presented to the airman’s parents. 
The Medal of Honor ceremony was shot at the airfield in Paulding County last month, and that’s where Sasser’s role as an extra comes into play. Sasser, whose distant cousin received the Medal of Honor, heard about the movie’s need for extras after a casting notice was sent out by Veteran Services Coordinator Dr. Barry Munday. Sasser, who is employed as the college’s Business Center Operations clerk in Administrative Services, jumped on the opportunity.
“This story from the Vietnam era needs to be told,” she said. “So many of our veterans from that era were mistreated, unrecognized and never felt validated. It’s my duty and honor to show my love and appreciation for our veterans whenever and wherever I can.”
Sasser reported to the set at 9 a.m. each day and was not released until 2 a.m. While not on set, Sasser said volunteers were housed in a large tent with snacks and local musical entertainment. Once called to the set, Sasser said the movie extras were mostly used in crowd shots, moving from place to place to fill the background and used for loud clapping and whistling.
On the second day of filming, Sasser was one of the 25 people asked to stay for close up shots.
“I had my husband’s Navy flight jacket, and was asked if they could film me holding it on my lap,” she said. “Then, I was used for background shots for the reenactment of the Medal of Honor Awards ceremony and again for the rescued and survivors reception of friends following the (real) ceremony.”
A perk to volunteering for 15-plus hour days was that Sasser got to brush elbows with Hollywood heavyweights, including Samuel L. Jackson, Diane Ladd, William Hurt, and Amy Madigan, to name a few.
“Everyone lived up to expectations, especially Christopher Plummer (Daddy Von Trapp from ‘The Sound of Music’) who when several of us hummed ‘Edelweiss’ when he was walking by, he clapped his hands and gave us a thumbs up,” she said.
Sasser’s appreciation for veterans and service members goes beyond her involvement with “The Last Full Measure.” Sasser is Green Zone certified and works with Munday to coordinate flag retirement ceremonies with Boy Scout Troop No. 119. She additionally is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) with 22 registered Revolutionary War patriot ancestors and serves on the Citizenship Committee and teaches civics, government and history to those working toward American citizenship. 
“I attend their swearing-in ceremonies as citizens,” she said. “I place DAR markers on fallen members graves.”
Sasser additionally serves on the Eagle Scout Board of the Marietta East Stake in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is responsible for signing off on their citizenship, history and genealogy badges. She also reviews the work for all prospective Eagle Scouts that are in any of the local high schools’ JROTC groups and makes sure their recruiters know they’ve earned their Eagle rank.
“I serve as the President of M.O.M of Cherokee (Mothers of Marines), a support group that sends letters and care packages to deployed Marines around the world (and other services too), welcomes Marines home at Hartsfield-Jackson, and provides treats to the USO lounge (also at Hartsfield-Jackson),” she said. “My family and I serve 50 ambulatory wounded and or retired Veterans from the Charlie Norwood VA Hospital in Augusta each Thanksgiving.”
As a volunteer, Sasser helps put on a 5K race in Cobb County to benefit the Wounded Warriors Project and the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur. As a DAR chair, she attends memorial services for all fallen veterans that were members of the DAR, Sons of the American Revolution or Children of the American Revolution.