Dover Airmen try out for Tops In Blue Published Jan. 29, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Chad Padgett 436 AW Public Affairs DOVER AIF FORCE BASE, Del. -- As a former second-place winner in Dover Idol, Staff Sgt. Letisia Eddy hoped she has what it took to be a part of Tops In Blue. Tops In Blue is an expeditionary entertainment unit that travels the world promoting community relations, supporting recruiting efforts, serving as ambassadors for the Air Force and entertaining servicemembers abroad. "I started when I was young just singing with the family, then in junior high school I started in choirs," said Sergeant Eddy. "When I was in high school I started in the show choir and then after high school the church choirs." After joining the Air Force, Sergeant Eddy hoped to try out for Tops In Blue, but always seemed to find herself deployed during try outs. This did not stop her from finding places to sing. "When I was deployed to Camp Bucca, Iraq, I joined the church choir and realized just how much I missed singing," she said. "I did a couple talent shows and got first place my second week there." When a friend told her of the current Tops In Blue audition, Sergeant Eddy quickly got her audition tape together. "I sent in my video tape of me singing 'Get Here If You Can' by Oleta Adams," she said. "About 300 people applied and they chose 80 to compete in Texas." Four active duty and one reservist were selected from Dover. Once they arrived at San Antonio, they began performing immediately. "We did three shows, one show each night," she said. "When we first got there we picked a random number for when we would perform and I was the last show, last act. It was long nights, sore feet, but we got to do what we love to do. People who have never sang together before came together to sing as a team. It was a great experience that I've never done anything like it before." While Sergeant Eddy loved the experience of singing with others, there were also a few special faces in the crowd that stuck with her. "We went to a veteran's hospital and sang for them," she said. "That's what it's all about to me, giving back to the community. That was the best experience while we were there. One lady came to every one of our shows even though she was in a wheelchair. It's very humbling."