Air Force 'Tops in Blue' touches down at McChord

Published Nov. 15, 2011
By David Poe
Northwest Guardian

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- More than 50 years ago then Maj. Al Reilly had an idea- build an Air Force-wide competition different from the many athletic competitions already thriving throughout the service, make it based on creative talent, and then use what he found to entertain other Airmen and their families around the globe.

The answer was Tops in Blue, and from Buddy Holly to Beyonce', the tradition has continued. A third of the way into their world tour, the Airmen blew the doors off of McChord Field's Hangar 9, Nov. 8.

While Tops in Blue may be a special tradition for military families every year, this year the Joint Base Lewis-McChord audience had an even better reason to go blue as their own Senior Airman James Santos, an Airman from McChord's 62nd Maintenance Squadron, as well as a polished trumpeter, took to the stage. Picked up for the special unit earlier this year, Santos said the ride has been great, and though he's seeing a different job set with Tops in Blue right now than what he normally saw as a 62nd MXS Airman, the workload is no less heavy.

"(Comparing the two) is like comparing apples to oranges," Santos said. "I really enjoy my job, but I'm also really enjoying being a part of Tops in Blue."

This year's theme, dubbed "Rhythm Nation," was written and arranged with the idea of covering American popular music from the advent of radio, up through today's hits, leaving the audience, which ran the gamut from head-nodding senior citizens to wiggling and giggling kindergartners, with some sort of music that was up their alley. Col. R. Wyn Elder, 62nd Airlift Wing commander and a co-host for the show, said he felt the array of music was one of the highlights of a Tops in Blue show which he said was the best he's ever seen, and that he's always impressed by the humbleness of the talented Airmen of Tops in Blue.

"I've been to shows since I was six years old," Elder said, who claimed this year's show was his twentieth Tops in Blue. "I liked it because they did such a wide array of music. Also, the best thing about them is they're just regular Airmen, they do their job every day for years and next thing you know they're world-class entertainers."

As his first Tops in Blue show as commander of JBLM's 62nd AW, he said the legend of Tops in Blue is just another example of the many opportunities available for multifaceted Airmen today.

"That's one of the things I love about the Air Force," Elder said. "You can do so many things all under the same umbrella."

Volunteers from USO Puget Sound Area, several Civil Air Patrol units and other individuals supported the show, as well as first responder duty by units from across the installation.

Though guests enjoyed 90 dazzling minutes of Tops in Blue, the true performance is months long as the group covers 140 shows worldwide, and will wrap with a finale in San Antonio Feb. 24. Santos may have performed three-quarters of a mile away from his shop on McChord Field, but said in the figurative sense he's a lot further away right now, and knows he's doing the right thing in this once in a lifetime opportunity.

"It's a long way," he said. "Being on the stage is critical in a sense because it's something people use to keep going. It brings joy and a moment of pause for people who are in the other critical mission (conventional military operations). We're genuinely happy to perform and we try to share that with the crowd. It means a lot to me."

After leaving McChord Field, Tops in Blue went to Kadena Air Base, Japan, before they hit Kunsan Air Base, Korea. To keep up with the Air Force's most talent Airmen in flight, or maybe find out if you have what it takes for next year's tour, visit http://www.topsinblue.com.