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***image1***Local Airman ‘shines’ for KMC performance, stays in step with musical group
One of KMC’s finest traded her bars in for stars to be part of the Air Force music group “Tops In Blue,” which performed in Hangar 1 at Ramstein Air Base Saturday.
***image2***1st Lt. Laura Richmond, 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron section commander, revisited the area here when she performed live with a group of 32 Tops In Blue performers for an audience of more than 1,000 military members and their families.
“It was astounding!” said Lieutenant Richmond about her return performance to her home base. “Having the opportunity to perform at Ramstein is very exciting,” she said.
***image3***According to Headquarters U.S Air Force Services Agency, an Air Force worldwide talent contest was created in 1953 to recognize talented Airmen in various categories ranging from comedy, drama, vocals, gospel, vocal and instrumental groups, country and western, and several others, thus resulting in the musical performance group Tops In Blue.
In February, Lieutenant Richmond had the opportunity to participate in the worldwide talent contest and was one of 400 asked to return for final auditions. She was then selected out of 70 people for placement into the group where she now acts as a vocalist and tour director.
***image4***“Being in Tops In Blue is unlike any other position in the Air Force,” said Lieutenant Richmond who became one of the group’s members in March. “You literally tour the world and have the opportunity to improve morale and touch lives in ways you would never have otherwise.”
Performing for other active-duty members and their families is one of the many highlights Lieutenant Richmond said she enjoys the most.
Traveling around the world and meeting different people has created some of the most memorable mom-ents, she said.
“I met a man who was the chaplain at one of the bases where we
performed — then, at a Malmstrom Air Force Base (Montana) show, a woman came up to me and told me that she was that chaplain’s wife and that being able to watch our show and know it was the same show he had seen — made her feel connected to him.”
***image5***“The highlight of working in the show is seeing the reaction from the audiences,” said Lieutenant Richmond. “You touch people in unexpected ways — and that is an indescribable feeling,” she said.
In addition to being talented enough for a spot in the show, Lieutenant Richmond attributes having had the chance to audition and perform in Tops In Blue with the support of her co-workers and then commander, Lt. Col. James Wesslund. “Colonel Wesslund was very supportive,” she said. “And it was because of his personal support to make this happen that I’m here.”
***image6***Having the chance to see Lieutenant Richmond perform live at Ramstein was also an experience for those who supported her from the start.
“It was great to see Lieutenant Richmond as a member of the team,” said Colonel Wessulund, who attended the show with his family. “She dedicated herself to a very demanding job in an extremely busy unit, and it’s apparent that her commitment to Tops in Blue is equally strong,” he said.
“Letting her join the team was a difficult decision for us, but we knew that her talents and work ethic would be well spent on these performances that mean so much to so many,” said Colonel Wessulund.
Tops In Blue, a musical group of active-duty Airmen, has performed this year at more than 100 locations in 16 countries.
