Tops in Blue performs in Monterey

  • Published
  • By Col. William Bare
  • 517th Training Group Commander
PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif.-- --  Local residents were treated to a rare public performance, Tuesday, when the U.S. Air Force's Expeditionary Entertainers, Tops in Blue, performed in downtown Monterey, Calif.

Hosted by the 517th Training Group, the show offered not only great songs and good laughs, but a community reunification theme and even a special homecoming. Tops in Blue traveled directly to Monterey from their last performance where they opened the Super Bowl singing "America the Beautiful" with Lea Michele from the hit TV show "Glee".

The anticipation of a free Tops in Blue show created a buzz throughout the Monterey Peninsula, and the overwhelming response surprised all involved with the production. Col. Terry Bare, commander of the 517th Training Group and Assistant Commandant of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, chose a free show at the Golden State Theater as a way to express appreciation to the local community for its continued support of military personnel and their families.

Forty-five minutes after the doors of the historic theater opened, all 1,000 seats were filled. Attendees viewed musical performances spanning multiple decades and genres of music intertwined with high-spirited audience participation.

Servicemembers from all services who work and live in the Monterey Peninsula area, as well as local community guests attended the event. However, it was Airmen and their families who sang most vigorously with Tops in Blue to the "Air Force Song," showing their Air Force pride.

The military and civilian community on the Monterey Peninsula has shared a tremendous unified relationship since World War II. Both the Naval Postgraduate School and Defense Language Institute have been open campuses in the past but, after September 11, 2001, the erection of boundary fences and gates around both institutes created an unintended separation of that unity. This show helped strengthen old bonds and gave new vitality to that relationship.

The bonding was most perceptible as the show concluded and Tops in Blue performers took the stage in their formal dress uniform. The audience displayed U.S. and Air Force pride as they performed "God Bless the USA" and their closing song, a 25-year Tops in Blue tradition, "Proud to be an American."

Military and local community members, and even those visiting the area, stood side-by-side with a rejuvenated patriotic spirit throughout both songs. After the performance, the audience gave a standing ovation, which lasted more than three minutes.

While this was a meaningful event for most, it was more so for one special member of Tops in Blue.

For Tech.Sgt. Lesley Hunter, one of the Tops in Blue lead vocalists, this was an emotional homecoming. Sergeant Hunter is assigned to the 314th Training Squadron at Presidio of Monterey and was selected as a performing member of the amateur entertainment group in April of last year.

She said she was extremely glad to be home and especially grateful for the support she received from colleagues, friends, and the Monterey community. But her reunion was short-lived, and within hours of the show's end, Tops in Blue was on the road again, headed to their next show where they will once again provide an audience with enthusiastic patriotic entertainment.

Sergeant Hunter is scheduled to return to her duties at the 314th TRG in April.