TBolt fuels singing passion through sacrifice

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Grace Lee
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The sound of the cheering crowd was overwhelming as she sang the national anthem in front of nearly 60,000 people. You may think she was nervous but she wasn't.

Staff Sgt. Samantha Renner, 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution supervisor, has been singing for Luke Air Force Base since she was first stationed here eight years ago.

It began in the most unlikely of ways.

"When you first come to any petroleum, oil, lubricants flight, you need to either sing, dance or tell a joke to introduce yourself, so I broke out into some Reba," Renner said. "They figured maybe I could carry a tune and were surprised to find out I could sing. Then one of the guys who worked here asked me if I would sing at his retirement ceremony and my phone has been ringing ever since."

Renner, whose been singing since she was 12, takes time out of her day to sing for base functions, change-of-command ceremonies, retirement ceremonies and more because it's her passion.

"There are times when I am on night shift and I get up in the middle of the day to do a retirement ceremony, promotion ceremony or whatever it is, but it's just my thing," Renner said. "I like to sing, and I like having the opportunity to do it even if I have to do it during my off-duty hours."

Renner sings at an average of 50 events per year equaling about 400 for the last eight years.

"I've done every major sports venue in the area," she said. "Probably the biggest ones are a Cardinal's football game and the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl last year. The reason they're so memorable is because a stadium full of people is really loud when they cheer for you. The way I've always seen it is the bigger the crowd, the better I do."

During her personal time, Renner likes to record herself singing covers of her favorite artists.

"I like to sing country and classic rock and I want to be Pat Benatar when I grow up," Renner said. "Reba McEntire's 'Fancy' is my favorite song to sing though."
While her primary job is in POL, Renner has hopes of making it to the Air Force Band one day.

"When I auditioned the first time, they told me they loved it, but I couldn't read music," Renner said. "They told me to come back once I learned but I never did. Recently, I got myself into music-reading lessons, so the next time I have a chance to audition, I hope to make it."

Renner's selfless giving of time and talent has not gone unnoticed.

"Staff Sgt. Renner is hardworking, dedicated to her job, friendly, compassionate to her Airmen, displays a lot of integrity and all the Air Force's core values," said Master Sgt. Jeremy Whitworth, 56th LRS fuels operations section chief. "I think it's awesome thatshe sings for the base, and as a whole flight, we are very proud of her."

Covering the same song and similar events hundreds of times can be monotonous especially when most times there isn't a "thank you," but when there is one, it recharges the excitement in Renner.

"It was nice being recognized as Thunderbolt of the Week because this is something that doesn't happen often," Renner said. "Sometimes you have people who are ecstatic about what you do and when they see you they call you 'Superstar' and tell you you're awesome, and then you go through lows when people don't say anything. They just expect you to show up and you get tired of doing it. One of the best parts of singing is the appreciation other's show me for doing it. When people tell me mine is the best rendition of the national anthem they have ever heard, it makes me proud."