Festival of Books: Come hear the TSA Chorus sing (not screen)
TSA agent Eric Monroe of the TSA Choir sings holiday songs at LAX in 2011.
Come watch Transportation Security Administration agents do something they don’t typically do on the job -- sing! -- on April 18 at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
Yes, there’s a TSA Chorus made up of agents who are responsible for screening you through airport security. The group based in Los Angeles has been known to go caroling at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) around holiday time, and perform on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, July 4 and Sept. 11 too.
The chorus started in 2003, and they sing on their own time -- not taxpayer time.
How good are they?
TSA agent Damien Lawson, who survived a 2013 shooting at LAX, sang with the group and last year made it as far as the semifinals on “The Voice.”
Lawson, who’s no longer with the chorus, sang “I Believe I Can Fly” at the memorial for Gerardo Hernandez, the 39-year-old TSA agent who was killed Nov. 1, 2013, while on duty at LAX. (Accused shooter Paul Ciancia awaits trial on 11 federal counts, including murder and attempted murder.)
The TSA Chorus will perform at 2:45 p.m. April 18 at the Travel Smart Stage during the festival at USC.
Check out the full Festival of Books schedule for more travel-related events.
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