First Sgt. Warren Harris had Saturday all planned out: He was going to wash his cars, mow the lawn and paint two birchwood chairs he recently built.

Instead, as part of Make A Difference Day (MADD), Harris, along with more than 70 Soldiers from the 71st Chemical Company, took the day "off" to give the makai side of the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii, at Fort DeRussy, a much-needed facelift.

Created by USA Weekend Magazine, Make a Difference Day is an annual event when individuals help others in their communities through service projects from clean ups to caring for the elderly.

At 9 a.m., the company gathered to finalize its game plan.

"From what I've been told, this is the third time this fort has been painted," Harris said.

"We're part of history," a Soldier in the crowd said.

"So preppers, I wanna see you move. Move. Alright?" Harris stressed. "Behind that, I should see paint slappin' on walls. Are we trackin'?"

A resounding "Hooah" erupted from the company.

Immediately, Soldiers split into groups to tackle the 12-by-270 foot surface.

Some covered nearby bougainvillea shrubs with plastic, while a large group armed with wire brushes and scrapers fanned out and chipped loose paint. Those with paintbrushes and rollers followed the scrapers.

"I'm just trying not to get paint on my face," Pvt. David Trites said as he stretched to reach the top of a wall with a paint roller. "I don't mind getting it on my jeans or shirt, but it almost takes gasoline to get it off [the face]."

Capt. Terrence Soule, the company's commander, chipped and painted right alongside his Soldiers. He explained why his company chose Fort DeRussy from the list of projects around the island.

"We have a part in keeping Army history alive," Soule said. "Also, [the event] is a good tool for the Army to get to know the community."

The company also planned a barbecue after the project. Different groups of Soldiers and family members brought the standard cookout fare — burgers, potato chips and condiments.

"It's not just about work," said Sgt. 1st Class Devlin Baker, operations sergeant.

"We're trying to make it as enjoyable as we can."

As sailboats tacked east toward Diamond Head and tourists tanned on the beach 50 yards away, Soldiers seemed to be enjoying themselves as well.

"Hey, Queeman, you look like a gardener," a Soldier yelled from the fort's roof to Pfc. Maurice Queeman, below, who wore headphones, a backpack and visor.

Queeman kept smiling as he painted large swaths on the wall with a 10-foot roller.

"They're so enthusiastic and happy to be down here," said Judith Bowman, the museum's curator, referring to the Soldiers. "We are so desperate for help here that I wish Make a Difference Day was every day."

Bowman is one of three full-time Army employees at the museum, which hosts more than 100,000 visitors each year.

In addition to the surge of volunteers for special projects like MADD throughout the year, Bowman said she relies on 17 regular, elderly volunteers to man the front desk and welcome visitors.

"Volunteers are the backbone of our staff," she said.

As Soldiers added the finishing touches and cleaned up, Bowman stood back to admire their work.

"Oh my God, what a facelift," she said.

After the company posed for a few group photos, several Soldiers swarmed Harris and Soule, carried them to the beach, and tossed them into the water.