News

Ohhh saaay can this Reservist sing

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Madelyn McCullough
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  The 446th Airlift Wing recently welcomed a new Airman into the 446th Force Support Squadron Sustainment Services Flight who, as it soon became apparent, has a talent.

Senior Airman Lisa Brown, 446th FSS sustainment services specialist, first began singing when she was just five years old. She started on a path to discovering the scope of her ability after joining choir early in elementary school and continued on it throughout her education.

"When I was a junior in high school in chamber choir, a select choir that you have to audition for, there were people that asked me if I've ever taken voice lessons," she said.
 
"The first time I ever took lessons was when I was in college because I wanted to try it out and see what it's like. I had laryngitis during the whole thing then, right before my recital, my voice came back and I shocked my voice lessons teacher. That's when I realized I could sing."

One song grew into a passion for her.

"I was in junior high when I sang the National Anthem for the first time," she said.

Because she was only 14 and had to perform in front of around 900 students and staff at a pep assembly, she was a little nervous, she said.

However, it wasn't long before she stomped those nerves to the ground and stepped up to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" again. In fact, since that first experience in the lime light, she has performed the song 40 times. Twenty-six of those performances were for Air Force events during her four and a half years on active duty.

"I call it my favorite song," Brown said. "Ever since I joined, it has more meaning behind it. It's such an honor and privilege to be able to get up there and represent the United States of America and the Air Force."

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. When she was deployed to Kuwait, she sang the song 16 times in six months. She was coined every time.

"Even the wing commander coined me for singing it 16 times," she said. "I will never forget that. That just made me more proud. It's awesome that the Air Force recognizes Airmen who stand out like that."

She plans to continue performing and hopes to one day sing for her favorite football team, the Seattle Seahawks.

"I am a diehard Seahawks fan," she said. "That would be my dream come true to sing for them."

Goals aside, Brown said she still sings just for the joy of it.

"I love to sing," she said. "It's a talent that I've been given so I like to express it. A lot of people like to hear good singers and they get entertainment out of that and I like to entertain people."

In the land of the free and the home of the brave, who knows what the future might hold for her.