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Patriots Cheerleaders visiting European bases

  • Published
  • AF Reserve Command Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga --  Cheerleaders for the NFL champion New England Patriots will bring holiday cheer to American troops overseas Nov. 21 to Dec. 3.

Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command here, are sponsoring Operation Season’s Greetings. Appearing at four USAFE bases, the show will feature four of the cheerleaders along with the Billboard top 20 artists Trick Pony, John Popper of the platinum-selling band Blues Traveler, and musicians from the USAFE Band and the Band of the Air Force Reserve.

“The Patriots Cheerleaders’ performance is really exciting, dancing to some great classic rock and roll, country and Top 40 music,” said Tracy Sormanti, coach of the squad. “Our show also includes a great deal of audience participation, and is sure to keep everyone laughing and having fun.”

Members of the cheerleading squad have entertained military troops in more than 20 countries since 9/11.

Sharing the spotlight with the cheerleaders are Trick Pony’s Heidi Newfield, vocals and harmonica; Keith Burns, acoustic guitar; and Ira Dean, bass as well as acoustic and electric guitar. They will perform songs from their new CD “R.I.D.E.” The CD reached No. 4 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart.

Blues Traveler’s John Popper will go solo and do some of his hits including the Grammy-winning single “Run Around.”

“I would like the audience to know that whether you are a football fan or not, the show is a nice reminder of home,” said Cara Orazietti, a Patriot cheerleader going on her first tour with the military. “It is our little way of saying thank you.”

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

“The most important message is that the troops have not been forgotten,” said Kristen O’Neil, another cheerleader whose grandfather was in WWII. “We are all very thankful for their dedication to our country.”

The tour will cover about 12,000 miles round trip. The performers, technicians, support troops and about 40,000 pounds of equipment will get a lift from a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft and a KC-10 Extender refueling and cargo aircraft.

“The Operation Season’s Greetings tour is exactly what the chief of staff of the Air Force prioritizes for Air Force bands,” said Dave Ballengee, deputy director of the Band of the Air Force Reserve, Robins AFB. “We’re going to forward and deployed locations for the morale of the troops and their families.”

The U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Reserve bands will perform as the opening act for the show – playing well-known rock-and-roll, rap and contemporary favorites. The combined band serves as a reminder of how Air Force reservists partner with the active duty and Air National Guard to create the Total Force.

Known as “Citizen Airmen,” Air Force reservists are frontline troops actively engaged in worldwide missions. Air Force Reserve Command has about 76,100 reservists on full and part-time duty in every job specialty, contributing to virtually every Air Force mission.