Spangdahlem Airman describes life with Tops in Blue

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amaani Lyle
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) --  This year, an Airman here was selected and is touring as one of 30 “ambassadors” of music, vocals and dance in the Air Force’s premier performing troupe, Tops in Blue.

Airman 1st Class Beverly Sadural, a 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron engineering assistant, will have brought America’s unique brand of culture and entertainment to more than 120 locations in the United States and 25 foreign countries by the end of the 2005 tour.

“When my commander told me I was selected for Tops in Blue, I felt like I was starting an exciting roller coaster ride,” Airman Sadural said.

Upon hearing the news, Airman Sadural said the initial jitters concerning the fate of her car and her cat were soon replaced by the anticipation of working with a variety of other Airmen committed to boosting servicemembers’ morale.

“We are bringing a piece of home to wherever (Airmen) and their families are stationed,” Airman Sadural said. “This is especially true for our desert troops -- we give them a moment to forget where they are and lose themselves in the moment.”

Airman Sadural said she often finds the general public is amazed that such a rich blend of musical talent is found within the profession of arms.

“Our audience is typically very proud that we can serve and represent our country in this way,” she said. “They seem more patriotic after seeing the show.”

Airman Sadural’s journey from a civil engineer to a Tops in Blue vocalist is one of the latest chapters in a vision more than half a century old.

Tops in Blue was the brainchild of Col. Alvin Reilly, who in 1953 aimed to recognize the high caliber of entertainment available in the Air Force community.

Over the span of decades, Tops in Blue has performed in films, produced albums and has been featured on national television with such stars as Ed Sullivan, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Barbara Mandrell and Alabama. In 1981, the cast performed the halftime show for the Garden State Bowl in New Jersey. With an estimated 110 million people watching worldwide, the cast presented the halftime entertainment show “The World of Children’s Dreams” for Super Bowl XIX on Jan. 20, 1985.

Embarking on an adventure such as Tops In Blue takes the determination of a performer as well as the teamwork of the office they leave behind for the one-year commitment.

“My shop has been very supportive of my selection,” Airman Sadural said. “Fortunately, around the time of the news, we’d just received three Airmen from technical school. Though they still needed further training, office space was limited, so my chance to represent the squadron, the wing and (U.S. Air Forces in Europe) solved the space problem and became a win-win situation.”

One Airman in her office here said he could not be more proud of his friend and colleague, who he described as “diligent and quiet-natured.” He recalled that her humility kept the depth and breadth of her talent somewhat obscured before her selection.

“I knew she was gifted when she sang the national anthem at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where we met about a year ago,” said Airman 1st Class Gregory Bault, a 52nd CES engineering apprentice. “She was so humble about her skill that we didn’t know all that she could do until after the Tops In Blue selection when she finally told us of her accomplishments.”

Her dedication earned her the prestige that fewer than 2,000 other Tops in Blue performers have enjoyed over the past 50 years.

“Tops in Blue is the Air Force’s premier entertainment showcase,” said Tom Edwards, show producer and Air Force Entertainment chief. “The 2005 team is a reflection of the ‘best of the best’ performers throughout the Air Force.”

This year’s tour ends in a few months, but Airman Bault said he has some pretty high hopes beyond the revue for his friend.

“It’s evident by Beverly’s success that a lot of hard work has gone into her already successful Air Force career, and we in the engineering flight expect even greater things to come,” he said. “Maybe she’ll even become the first female chief master sergeant of the Air Force.” (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)