SFS NCO selected to represent Dover in Tops In Blue

Published March 3, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Chad Padgett
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- After placing and winning in various singing contests such as AMC Icon, one Dover NCO has finally caught the 'brass ring.' Technical Sgt. Letisia Eddy, 436th Security Forces Squadron, was selected to perform with the Tops In Blue.

Tops In Blue is an expeditionary entertainment unit that travels the world promoting community relations, supporting recruiting efforts, serving as ambassadors for the Air Force and entertaining servicemembers abroad. The performance includes singing, instruments and other performers.

"I started when I was young just singing with the family, then in junior high school I started in choirs," said Sergeant Eddy. "When I was in high school I started in the show choir and then after high school the church choirs."

After joining the Air Force, Sergeant Eddy hoped to try out for Tops In Blue, but always seemed to find herself deployed during tryouts. This did not stop her from finding places to sing.

"When I was deployed to Camp Bucca, Iraq, I joined the church choir and realized just how much I missed singing," she said. "I did a couple talent shows and got first place my second week there."

She had auditioned for Tops In Blue previously but had not been selected to perform at the Worldwide Talent Contest, where judges pick performers out of Airmen from around the world.

"I don't think I was ready last year," admitted Sergeant Eddy.

In October 2009, Sergeant Eddy went on to take first place in the AMC Icon contest.

At the recent auditions for Tops In Blue, Sergeant Eddy performed 'I will always love you' by Whitney Houston. The judges selected her to try out in the Worldwide Talent Contest in San Antonio, Texas. There, judges would choose from performers from Air Force bases around the world, picking only a handful of performers to officially join the Tops In Blue for a one year tour.

"This year I was more focused, and I knew I wanted to be a part of the Tops In Blue team," she said. "I went to the Worldwide Talent Contest with a positive attitude and gave it all I had. Being a part of the Tops In Blue team is my main focus."

Sergeant Eddy will fly out March 9th to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, for staging and will begin touring the world shortly after.

"We have about six weeks to learn everything," said Sergeant Eddy. "I hope everyone can come out to see the show when we make our way to Dover."