U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Charles Cooper, 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron vehicle operator journeyman stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and Airman 1st Class Joseph Kay, 7th Force Support Squadron services apprentice from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, jam during a Tops in Blue performance at the Base TheaterDec. 7, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Peter Reft)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jessica Pitts, 606th Air Control Squadron cyber systems operations apprentice stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, plays a trumpet during a Tops in Blue performance at the Base Theater Dec. 7, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Peter Reft)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jessica Cunningham, 72nd Medical Operations Squadron medical technician journeyman stationed at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., sings the blues during a Tops in Blue performance at the Base Theater Dec. 7, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Peter Reft)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Charles Cooper, 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron vehicle operator journeyman stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, performs a mime routine during a Tops in Blue performance at the Base Theater Dec. 7, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Peter Reft)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kenneth Del Valle Ruiz, 1st Maintenance Operations Squadron maintenance scheduler journeyman from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., rocks the electric guitar during a Tops in Blue performance at the Base Theater Dec. 8, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Tops in Blue provides expeditionary entertainment for Air Force members, families and members of the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jim Araos)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jessica Cunningham, 72nd Medical Operations Squadron medical technician journeyman from Tinker Air Force base, Okla., sets the mood with the blues during a Tops in Blue performance at the Base Theater Dec. 8, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Tops in Blue tours yearly, visiting stateside and overseas locations. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jim Araos)
U.S. Air Force Capt. Ashley Elmore, 28th Force Support Squadron force support officer from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., sings during a Tops in Blue performance at the Base Theater Dec. 8, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. To date, Tops in Blue has traveled over four million miles to military bases throughout the world. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jim Araos)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Joleen Dedmon, 944th Medical Squadron dental assistant apprentice from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., performs during a Tops in Blue performance at the Base Theater Dec. 8, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Tops in Blue is an Air Force expeditionary entertainment that raises morale and aids recruiting efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jim Araos)
by Airman 1st Class Zachary Perras
354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
12/11/2012 - EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Members of the Iceman Team and their families enjoyed the sounds of Tops in Blue as the group finished its Pacific Air Forces segment of their 2012 world tour at the base theater here Dec. 7 and 8.
Airmen from all around the world make up the Tops in Blue team, now preparing for its next leg of this year's "Listen!" tour. Music performed ranged from country to the classics of Michael Jackson to please every member of the audience.
Senior Airman Joleen Dedmon, Tops in Blue vocalist, saw the group perform three times, once during Basic Military Training and once during a deployment, before she decided to audition. She said it was special to her to hear the performances, especially during difficult times.
Dedmon, a dental assistant assigned to the 944th Medical Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, said she has learned a lot about herself throughout the tour, but most importantly is that her performances are meant to be a gift to others. In a remote location such as Eielson, Tops in Blue was able to bring a bright light to the darkness of winter.
"It's not about you - that's the absolute truth," she commented. "This year is in no way about me or about any other member on the team. It's about serving the Airmen and their families, it's about serving others and maybe bringing a little bit of what they're missing out on back to them."
The idea of giving back is one shared by all members, said Airman 1st Class Joseph Kay, Tops in Blue vocalist. It pays off when the audience feels that energy and reciprocates.
"Seeing faces and hearing the voices of people singing along with us is one of the best feelings about touring," said Kay, 7th Force Support Squadron fitness apprentice, Dyess AFB, Texas. "Combined with traveling the world and uplifting morale of all our Airmen, can life get any better?"
Tops in Blue's history spans nearly six decades, and since its first world tour in 1953, the group has traveled to countless locations to uplift morale and support Airmen and their families. For Eielson, the performance brought energy and entertainment to an otherwise cold winter night.
