Tops in Blue dazzles audience

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Angela Martin
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --   Hundreds of service members, spouses and children gathered in the weather hangar here for the Thursday night performance by Tops in Blue.

"The performers clearly exceeded our expectations and made me proud to be an American," said Col. Michael Frankel, 47th Flying Training Wing Commander. "I am extremely thankful for all the local supporters we had for the performance, everyone made this event a great success."

More than 50 volunteers from Laughlin and the Del Rio High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training gathered to make Tops in Blue a successful night.

"We had volunteers representing almost every squadron on base as well as Junior ROTC working hard to make sure Laughlin had a Tops in Blue performance this year," said Tech. Sgt. Jasmine Jones, Tops in Blue volunteer coordinator , 47th Logistics Readiness Division. "This position was a great opportunity to meet people from all around base that I might not have ever had the opportunity to work with."

The Junior ROTC students were proud to work closely as volunteers with their active duty role models.

"We appreciate the wing giving the young cadets the opportunity to work along with current-day military professionals because leadership labs are very successful when you see how the lessons fit in with the real world," said retired Master Sgt. Jesse Davila, Junior ROTC Instructor.

Volunteers started working at 8 a.m. Thursday setting up chairs, equipment, and the Tops in Blue stage. After the show, they stayed past midnight cleaning up from the performance to ensure the hangar was mission-ready the next day.

From transportation, maintenance and safety, coordinators started working in February to make sure Laughlin had this night to look forward to.

"Today went so smoothly with all the help of my coordinators; I couldn't have done it without them," said 2nd Lt. Ryan Jefferson, Tops in Blue coordinator, 47th Force Support Squadron.

The crowd's reaction to the show was a testament to everyone's hard work.

"Tonight's show was over the top. Watching our fellow service members put on such an extraordinary performance was the perfect study break from pilot training," said 2nd Lt. Roberta Parker, 47th Operations Support Squadron.

Laughlin is proud to have three past Tops in Blue cast members. Master Sgt. Keith Martin, 96th Flying Training Squadron, Terra Wade, 47th FTW Judge Advocate Office and Robert Wade, Air Force Smart Operations, were all present to watch the show.

"Watching tonight's show brought back a lot of memories. We kind of felt like parents watching their kids perform," said Terra Wade.