Members of Tops and Blue perform at the duel-bay hangar on tour at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 21, 2012. The Tops in Blue 2012 World Tour, entitled “Listen,” has traveled across the United States and over 20 different countries. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)
Tech Sgt. Tonie Marshall849th Aircraft maintenance Squadron transmission craftsman performs at the duel-bay hangar on tour with Tops in Blue at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 21, 2012. The Tops in Blue 2012 World Tour, entitled “Listen,” has traveled across the United States and over 20 different countries. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)
Airman 1st Class Jonathan Leak plays a mime during a skit while on tour with Tops in Blue at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 21, 2012. The Tops in Blue 2012 World Tour, entitled “Listen,” has traveled across the United States and over 20 different countries. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)
Members of Tops and Blue perform at the duel-bay hangar on tour at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 21, 2012. The Tops in Blue 2012 World Tour, entitled “Listen,” has traveled across the United States and over 20 different countries. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)
Members of Tops and Blue perform at the duel-bay hangar on tour at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 21, 2012. The Tops in Blue 2012 World Tour, entitled “Listen,” has traveled across the United States and over 20 different countries. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)
Members of Tops and Blue perform at the duel-bay hangar on tour at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 21, 2012. The Tops in Blue 2012 World Tour, entitled “Listen,” has traveled across the United States and over 20 different countries. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)
Members of Tops and Blue perform at the duel-bay hangar on tour at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 21, 2012. The Tops in Blue 2012 World Tour, entitled “Listen,” has traveled across the United States and over 20 different countries. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)
Members of Tops and Blue perform at the duel-bay hangar on tour at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 21, 2012. The Tops in Blue 2012 World Tour, entitled “Listen,” has traveled across the United States and over 20 different countries. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)
Members of Tops and Blue perform at the duel-bay hangar on tour at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 21, 2012. The Tops in Blue 2012 World Tour, entitled “Listen,” has traveled across the United States and over 20 different countries. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright)
by Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright
86th Ailift Wing Public Affairs
10/24/2012 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The oldest entertainment group in the U.S. Air Force, Tops in Blue, performed at the duel-bay hangar here for the Kaiserslautern Military Community Oct. 21.
The theme for this year's tour is "Listen," featuring the rhythms of the Doobie Brothers, Earth, Wind and Fire, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and patriotic classics that honor our nation's heroes.
The group's primary mission is to entertain military personnel and their families throughout the world through song, dance and a variety of musical performances.
"Our job is to go out and increase morale for Airman stationed around the world," said Master Sgt. Matt Lemieux, Tops in Blue vocalist. "In turn they get their jobs done, therefore keeping the mission going."
This year Tops in Blue will travel through the United States and over 20 countries, with 130 performances. The team is composed of 35 Airmen from different career fields from all over the Air Force; they compete in a multilevel competition in order to be selected to go on a one year permissive temporary duty to the home of Tops in Blue at Joint Base San Antonio.
"We are all together 24/7 so we are like a family," said Lemieux. "Of Course we have our disagreements, but we work things out and ultimately we are going to miss each other when it is all over"
After the two hour performance, the audience gave a standing ovation and together they all sang the Air Force song.
Tops in Blue have already hit the road and are on their way to Thule Air Base, Greenland, and will continue to build morale and provide entertainment for the entire Air Force family.
Ramstein Air Base was the eighth base of more than 40 other bases who will be given the opportunity to see Tops in Blue perform.
