Operation Season’s Greetings bring music groups to Europe

***image1***ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – Air Force Reserve Command and U.S. Air
Forces in Europe are saddling up with Trick Pony and Blues Traveler’s
John Popper for a whirlwind concert tour to hit Ramstein Nov. 23.

Headquarters USAFE at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and Headquarters AFRC
here are co-sponsoring Operation Season’s Greetings. Four cheerleaders
from the New England Patriots will tour with the musicians and
technicians from the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and USAFE Band.

The Operation Season’s Greetings tour will perform at Ramstein Air Base
and Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany; Incirlik Air Base, Turkey;
Keflavik, Iceland; and at least one deployed location in Southwest
Asia.

Performing as the opening act, the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve
and the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band will play well-known
rock-and-roll, rap and contemporary favorites.

“Operation Season’s Greetings will put on a show that is on par with
any high-dollar concert back home,” said Dave Ballengee, deputy
director of the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

The primary members of Trick Pony are Heidi Newfield, vocals and
harmonica; Keith Burns, acoustic guitar; and Ira Dean, bass as well as
acoustic and electric guitar. Their newest compact disc – “R.I.D.E.” –
was in the top 20 of the Billboard 200 all-genre chart during its first
week in stores.

Mr. Popper will perform as a solo act and is expected to perform some
of his hits including the Grammy-winning single “Run Around.”

The performers, technicians, support troops and about 40,000 pounds of
equipment will get a lift from an Air Force cargo aircraft and a KC-10
Extender refueling and cargo aircraft.

Serving as the air component of U.S. European Command, USAFE supports
U.S. interests and policies throughout the European continent, covering
more than 21 million square miles, including 91 countries and
territories.

Reserve, active-duty and National Guard Airmen work together as a team
to make the U.S. Air Force the most powerful force the world has ever
seen. The Air Force Reserve provides about 20 percent of the Air
Force’s combat capability for about four percent of the total Air Force
budget.
(Information courtesy of Air Force Reserve Command)