Tops In Blue put on a show for Airmen, Soldiers at Balad

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Candace Romano
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFNEWS) --  Sequins, tassels, gleaming brass and perfectly choreographed dance moves were on display as the 2007 Tops In Blue team unleashed the talent of the Air Force for Airmen and Soldiers April 28 at the Sustainer Theater here.

Thirty-eight active-duty Airmen make up the singers, dancers, instrumentalists, drivers and stage crew for Tops in Blue, the Air Force's premier expeditionary entertainers.

The team set out in mid-April to kick off their annual tour singing and dancing their way through the area of responsibility. 

This year's theme, "The Fly-By," commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the Air Force, and takes audiences through time as the group performs songs from the decades, starting with Big Band tunes to a sizzling rendition of "Fever," by Peggy Lee, and other hits by the Beach Boys, Chubby Checker, Barbra Streisand and The Temptations. The show includes 90 minutes of nonstop live music and entertainment.

"I thought the show was amazing -- to see all of them up there, singing, sweating and dancing," said Senior Airman Elizabeth Milliken, a 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron munitions systems journeyman. "Seeing their motivation and energy has definitely boosted my morale."

While it was an Air Force performance, many members of the sister services showed up for the show.

"I really didn't know what to expect, since I've never seen Tops In Blue before," said Army 1st Lt. Carlos Cruz of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry from Fort Hood, Texas.

The lieutenant, who is deployed to Forward Operating Base Normandy, Iraq, was traveling through Balad Air Base on his way back to the states for rest and relaxation.

"It was a taste of home; something I haven't seen in seven months," he said.

Bringing a taste of home to deployed Airmen is exactly what Tops In Blue does.

"I love it. I love everything we're doing for our Air Force family," said Senior Airman James Rannalli, a trumpet player with Tops In Blue.

Airman Rannalli was recently deployed to Contingency Operating Base Speicher in 2005 where he provided gun support on convoys with the Army north of Baghdad.

"It's weird to be out here on the opposite side of things, but it's a great feeling to be supporting the Airmen deployed out here," said Airman Rannalli, who is a vehicle operator with the 37th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

The cast ended the show by singing a Tops In Blue tradition, "God Bless the USA," by Lee Greenwood, followed by the Air Force song.

"It's good for all of us to have a piece of home," said Brig. Gen. Robin Rand, the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "This is the eighth time in three years Tops In Blue has come here, and this is the finest show I've seen."

Every year, Tops In Blue entertains more than 250,000 servicemembers and their families, traveling around the world. They will tour Southwest Asia for three weeks, and continue their 2007 tour through February 2008.

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