Tops In Blue sings songs of freedom Published June 24, 2015 By Senior Airman Stephanie Englar 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- More than 1,000 Team BLAZE and local community members attended the Tops In Blue performance at Mississippi University for Women's Whitfield Hall Rent Auditorium June 20. The Tops In Blue performers rocked the house with this year's "Freedom's Song" theme, which featured family-friendly covers of popular songs ranging from today's hits to gospel to 1940s wartime favorites. The performers also donned costumes and sang a few children's tunes. "I really enjoyed watching Tops In Blue this year," said Airman 1st Class Nadia Armstrong, 14th Medical Operations Squadron Aerospace Medical Technician. "My favorite part was the A Cappella where they sang from the Barbershop scene." Tops In Blue is an all active-duty U.S. Air Force special unit made up of 35-40 talented vocalists, musicians, dancers and technicians selected for their entertainment abilities. They are hand selected after a musical talent competition, the Worldwide Talent Search, which takes place yearly in San Antonio, Texas. Performers who are selected then partake in a 60-day intensive training period at Lackland AFB, Texas, before they begin their seven-month long worldwide tour. "Coming to see these shows is a real morale booster," Armstrong said. "It gives Airmen the opportunity to see what else the Air Force offers and what you can offer to the Air Force." Though the Tops In Blue performers are their own "road crew," responsible for setting up and tearing down their own stage and performing various other tasks, 29 volunteers from Team BLAZE were on hand to assist the group. "Volunteering to help out Tops in Blue was important to me to be able to support their mission, and for a brief moment, be a part of them," said Master Sgt. Richard Savannah, 14th Communications Squadron Plans and Programs Superintendent. "It was great to see first-hand the hard work and pride that is put into before, during and after the show." Tops In Blue started in 1953 as a way to recognize the talent of the Airmen of the United States Air Force. Second Lt. Lauren Rogers, 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs officer and Tops in Blue vocalist, is also a Meridian, Mississippi, native and 2013 graduate of Mississippi State University. "When I heard about Tops In Blue, you never know what to expect with a traveling show group, but when I saw them it was amazing -- it's professionalism," Rogers said. "I couldn't believe that I could travel around the entire world, the Air Force supports what we do, and spread the word of America when we are overseas." The show ended with "God Bless the USA" and the "Air Force Song," both receiving a standing ovation. While traveling around the world, Tops In Blue performs for Airmen stationed at overseas bases and deployed locations as well as at home in America.
