Shows
HERITAGE MINUTE70 Years of Service. 1 Legendary Story: Col. (Ret.) Max Miller ’59
In this Heritage Minute Special, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 is joined by Col. (Ret.) Max Miller ’59, a proud member of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s first graduating class. They discuss a significant event that occurred 70 years ago, as well as Col. Miller’s long and distinguished service to the Air Force and the USAFA community.
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association...2025-07-2035 min
HERITAGE MINUTEContrails
From sweat-soaked pages in Jacks Valley to ceremonial handoffs at the Acceptance Day Parade, Contrails is more than a handbook — it's a rite of passage at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Dive into the legacy in this edition of Heritage Minute!
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation
2025-07-0802 min
The NDK PodcastCanada Day!Happy Canada Day from NDK!We're kicking things off with a tribute to our national anthem, from childhood introductions to the various versions over the years.Then, we'll dive into past Canada Day celebrations, including NDK's favorite part: fireworks! Nathan's got some great stories to share.Camping is also on the agenda—one of us at NDK loves it, the other, not so much! Tune in to find out which one in hilarious tales of camping adventures.We're also hi...2025-06-3042 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Modern Day Architect - Duane Boyle Part 2 of 3
In Part 2 of this 3-part series, Heritage Minute Special host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77, gets his conversation started with Mr. Duane Boyle, recently retired USAFA architect, a position he held for many years. The two discuss Mr. Boyle's role as the Academy’s Architect, his work and impact, specific projects, and their shared experiences having worked together over the years going back to the 1980's.
You don't have to wait for all parts to publish. You can listen to the full 1 hour and 22 minute conversation at your convenience here: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/4...2025-06-1528 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Jacks Valley
For graduates and cadets who trained here as basics, Jacks Valley will always occupy a special place in our memories. Here, we crawled in the mud, fought with pugil sticks, experienced tear gas, climbed obstacles, and did many other things for the first time in our lives. The Jacks Valley real estate was not part of the originally envisioned Academy installation. Prescient planners, however, wanted more land as a buffer. They feared that in decades to come, development and population encroachment would press up against the Academy. Of course, time has proven them to be correct. They added...2025-05-3103 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Modern Day Architect - Duane Boyle - Part 1 of 3
In Part 1 of this 3-part series, Heritage Minute Special host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77, gets his conversation started with Duane Boyle, recently retired USAFA architect, a position he held for many years. The two discuss Duane's role as the Academy Architect, his work and impact, specific projects, and their shared experiences having worked together over the years going back to the 1980's.
You don't have to wait for parts 2 and 3 to publish. You can listen to the full 1 hour and 22 minute conversation at your convenience by CLICKING HERE
Thank you for listening!
2025-05-1827 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Battle Ramp - A Legacy of Tradition
In August 1958 when the Academy completed its move from Lowry Air Force Base in Denver to this permanent location, the cadets first accessed the cadet area by marching up this ramp. ----more----
Arriving cadets have been doing so ever since. Every summer, appointees assemble on the footprints, get welcome with their first taste of Academy hospitality, and then head up the ramp to begin their Cadet careers in 1964 the words, "Bring Me Men" were mounted above the ramp in two foot high aluminum letters. The phrase is from a poem about westward expansion written by...2025-05-0402 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Cemetery Part 3 of 4 - Stunning Structures
The Air Force Academy cemetery has breathtaking natural beauty and an exceptionally impressive roster of people who have chosen it as their final resting place. It also holds a large number of important structures. Most visible is the memorial pavilion. After many years of events being negatively impacted by inclement weather on 11-May, 2007, this facility, funded by the Association of Graduates, was dedicated at the time. The $4.7 million structure, funded by more than 11,000 graduates and friends, was the largest single gift ever made to the Academy. Other structures at the cemetery include the locator building with the...2025-04-2002 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Cemetery Part 4 of 4 - Eligibility
The Air Force Academy cemetery is the only active base cemetery in the Air Force. In that regard, the USAFA cemetery is similar to the West Point and Annapolis cemeteries, which are also operated by their parent services, and the Arlington National Cemetery, which is administered by the Army. Consequently, the Academy cemetery has unique criteria for burial eligibility is outlined in Headquarters United States Air Force Academy instruction 34-501, which was published on 13 November, 2018. There are several exceptions and qualifiers, but the main categories of people eligible for burial at USAFA are USAFA cadets, Air Force...2025-04-2001 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Cemetery Part 2 of 4 - A Final Resting PlaceThe Air Force Academy cemetery is a somber and dignified focal point of the Academy's commitment to those who have gone before. It opened in September 1958 shortly after the cadet wing moved from Lowery Air Force base in Denver to its permanent location here, north of Colorado Springs. One gage of the facility's stature and importance is the people who have chosen it as their final resting place.
Appropriately, Lieutenant General Hubert Harmon, the Academy's first superintendent, was the first person buried here. He has since been joined by an impressive roster of Air Force and Academy...2025-04-1302 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Historic Cemetery Part 1 of 4
Traveling around the 18,500-acre Air Force Academy campus, one can see breathtaking natural scenery, modern architecture, and tributes to Air Force and Academy pioneers. ----more----
There is a place that features all of these attributes: the Academy Cemetery. Nestled amid pine trees east of the Cadet Area, the 100-acre facility is the final resting place for nearly 2,000 individuals. The burial ground dates back to the earliest days of the Academy’s existence at the permanent site. On 22 September 1958, less than a month after the cadets moved down from their temporary home at Lowry Air Force Base in...2025-04-0601 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Discovery of a Legend
During his days as a cadet, Col. (Retired) Jim Moschgat ’77 made a remarkable discovery: one of the Academy’s janitors was a Medal of Honor recipient. Listen now to hear the amazing story of William Crawford.
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation
2025-04-0616 min
HERITAGE MINUTEWhere it All Began - The USAFA Founders Day Story
April 1, 1954 is the day President Dwight D. Eisenhower shook hands with then Secretary of the Air Force, Harold E. Talbott. The president had just signed legislation authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Air Force Academy. USAFA’s Founders Day has been celebrated on April 1 ever since.
(Left Image) President Dwight D. Eisenhower (seated) shakes hands with Secretary of the Air Force Harold E. Talbott on April 1, 1954, after signing legislation authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Looking on (from left) are Congressman Carl Vinson, Georgia; Gen. Nathan F. Twining, Air...2025-03-3012 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe History Making USAFA Class of ’69
In this Heritage Minute Special: Col. (Ret.) Darrel Whitcomb '69 recently led a reunion of his classmates and emceed a briefing outlining their roles during the Vietnam War. The group heard from fellow pilots, search-and-rescue team members and former POWs. Join the conversation between host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 and Col. Whitcomb, a passionate historian and published author with a great many stories to tell.
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U...2025-03-2335 min
HERITAGE MINUTEHistoric Ice Lake
Located just west of the Service and Supply Area at the south end of the Academy is Ice Lake. A century ago, it was bustling with industry. ----more----
During the winter, this lake, and several others in the Colorado Springs-Monument area, would freeze solid. Workers would harvest the ice using a one-handed version of the loggers saw. The ice, cut into blocks, would be used to preserve perishable food in early-day refrigerators, appropriately called “ice boxes.” Pioneers establishing homesteads in the area that is now the Academy included Aaron and Martha Blodgett, namesake of nearby Blodgett...2025-03-1602 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA'S Exceptional Collector
In this edition of Heritage Minute Special, host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 is holding a reunion of sorts. ----more----
His guest is a hire of his from a few years back. Meredith Harlow is the Academy’s Curator of Artifacts. Listen in as the two discuss Meredith’s background, and the work she does preserving the things at make USAFA’s history and heritage unique.
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Associati...2025-03-0914 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Air Force Academy's Oldest Building is a Tiny Cabin
Tucked away in the Douglass Valley woods, along the stretch of the Falcon Trail between the Community Center and Falcon Stadium is the oldest structure on the Academy and one of the oldest in the Pikes Peak region. ----more----
This is officially called the Pioneer Cabin. It has been known as the Capps Cabin, but in reality was built by William A. Burgess, another early settler. Around 1870, Leonard and Mary Ann Capps established a homestead just south of where Falcon Stadium is today. The foundation of that three-room building is still visible. This structure, the Pione...2025-03-0202 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Command Historian
In this edition of the Heritage Minute Special podcast, host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ‘77 is speaking with the Academy’s Command Historian, Dr. Brian Laslie. During this conversation, we get into his love of history and how that led him to the Academy.
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation
2025-02-2321 min
HERITAGE MINUTEA Gallery of Great Airmen
The “Gallery of Great Airmen” is an artistic gem located in the Exemplar area of Fairchild Hall. ----more----
The large display features portraits of 68 leaders. Included are such iconic Americans as the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, General Benjamin O. Davis Junior, Bob Hope, and General Jimmy Stewart. The Falcon Foundation donated the works of art to the Academy on 6 May 1966. Many of the individuals immortalized here are namesakes of scholarships provided by the non-profit. The Falcon Foundation was incorporated in Texas on 7 April 1958 as “The Mitchell Foundation.” That name didn’t last long, however, as the heirs of Gen...2025-02-1603 min
HERITAGE MINUTEA Lifetime Chronicling and Preserving History
Maj. (Ret.) Don Rightmyer ’73 has spent a lifetime chronicling and preserving history. Like Heritage Minute Special host, Steve Simon ’77, he has a love of history. Unlike Steve, who developed his passion for the field only about 20 years ago, Maj. Rightmyer's dates back to his days as a USAFA cadet. These kindred spirits have been drawn together by their mutual interest in history and heritage.
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundat...2025-02-0927 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Bell of Neuville Tolls a Story
There is an artifact in the Academy’s Community Center area that predates the Academy by more than 140 years.
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In 1813, townspeople in and around Neuville, in the Normandy region of France, raised funds for a church bell. Before the end of the year, the resultant bell took its place in the church’s Gothic bell tower. As is customary in France, the bell was given a name - Caroline Antoinette. The 835-pound bell included 28 pounds of silver, which was said to give the bell its pleasing tone. In 1950, shortly after-World War II, several c...2025-02-0202 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe MOST Decorated Hockey Player in Academy HistoryA graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1977, hockey player Chuck Delich is a living legend and he continues to contribute to the game to this day. Enjoy this conversation with Chuck's classmate and host of the Heritage Minute Special series, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ‘77.
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation
2025-01-2626 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's First Home: Lowry AFB
This is where it all began. July eleventh, 1955, 306 basic cadets arrived at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, to begin their journey at the United States Air Force Academy. ----more----
Not much remains of the former base. But if you listen intently enough, you can still hear the faint echoes of the first members of the Long Blue Line. President Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation that established the Air Force Academy on April first, 1954 – Founders Day. Less than three months later, on June twenty-fourth, Secretary of the Air Force Harold Talbott announced that Colorado Springs would b...2025-01-1903 min
HERITAGE MINUTEFrom Cadet to Senator and President
Host, Steve Simon’77, is joined by Colonel (Retired) Randy Helms, USAFA Class of ’79. Among his many accomplishments, he leads the Association of Graduates’ Class Advisory Senate. The two get into that and many other topics in this conversation.
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation
2025-01-1228 min
HERITAGE MINUTEA Heritage Minute Special Special!When it’s all about holding up our end of the historical preservation and Academy story telling mission… Beginning Sunday, January 5, history makers, observers and your favorite historical story teller, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77, all meet in the same place the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month and you get to listen in!
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation
2025-01-0536 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Defunct Ski Tow
In the early 1960s, some enterprising residents of Douglass Valley tried to build a neighborhood ski area in the west end of the valley. ----more----
Evidence of the ski tow structure they built survives to this day. A Department of Defense map of the academy identified a ski tow in the far south west corner of the academy reservation. Documents discovered in the McDermott Library’s Special Collections branch contain information about the effort covering the period September 1961 to December 1962. Planners obtained permission from base leadership and, using non-appropriated funds, built a platform atop the east-w...2024-12-2902 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA'S Cadet Sabres: Now Made in the USAThe production of USAFA’s cadet sabers has moved from Germany to Colorado Springs. Heritage Minute Special host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 is closely connected with the people and the processes and explains the change.
MORE ABOUT STEVE SIMON
Steve and his wife, Paula, are not only charter members, but Steve is a founding signatory on the original agreement to form the group back in 1994. In addition, Steve and Paula share a notable distinction with only five other Sabre Society members: they have faithfully made their yearly donation every year since the Sabre Society's incep...2024-12-2211 min
HERITAGE MINUTEFalcon Stadium's Rich Heritage Explained
Almost all of the Air Force Academy football games are televised, drawing large national audiences. ----more----
For most of those viewers, Falcon Stadium is their primary view of the Academy. Consequently, it is important that the facility help tell the story of the Academy and the Air Force. That was the rationale behind recent efforts to utilize the stadium as a venue to inform and inspire fans. Air Force and Academy leaders and historians adopted an idea already in use at the Naval Academy’s War Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, in which they display the na...2024-12-1502 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Town of Husted - Anchoring USAFA's PastBefore there was an Air Force Academy, the 18,500 acres that now host USAFA had a few settlements, most notably the small community called Husted. ----more----
Located just south of the Academy’s North Gate bridge along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and the New Santa Fe Regional Trail, Husted began in the early 1870s. Railroaders and citizens of the area chose to name the community after local lumberman Calvin Husted. Husted grew into an important stop on the Santa Fe and the Denver & Rio Grande Railroads, with a grocery store, a café, a church and a school...2024-12-0802 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Sabre Society Celebrating 30 Years Hard at WorkThe Sabre Society came into existence 30 years ago when the Air Force Academy joined with the Association of Graduates in 1995 to sign a MOU. ----more----
Thus the Sabre Society was established. Since then, a great many programs have been funded benefiting USAFA and its cadets. Join founder, Col. (Ret.) John Kelly ’65 and Heritage Minute Special host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 for an inside look at the organization.
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Assoc...2024-12-0115 min
HERITAGE MINUTEAn Ancient Diary In Stone: USAFA's Cathedral RockBest known for the “Run to the Rock,” a key rite-of-passage milestone in Doolie-year training, Cathedral Rock, has an interesting history.
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The imposing 120-foot high formation is made of volcanic clay and sandstone. The geologic wonder at the west end of Jacks Valley has had, and continues to have, importance to Native American tribes. Later, pioneers would visit the site. Many of them would literally “sign in,” carefully carving their names or initials into the hardened clay, sometimes adding a date. For example, Lewis Flegell was a pioneer who lived during the 1870s in what today i...2024-12-0102 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe F-100 Super SabreOne of the Academy’s best, and mostly unknown, historical artifacts is located on the campus of the Air Force Academy Preparatory School. The North American F-100 Super Sabre aircraft on static display here has an amazing history. ----more----
First, some background: On May twenty-first, 1927, aviator Charles Lindbergh landed his aircraft, the Spirit of St. Louis, near Paris, completing the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic. The flight brought worldwide attention to the capabilities of airplanes, improving the prospects of an Air Force Academy. Now, fast-forward thirty years. To commemorate Lindbergh’s achievement, on May twenty-first, 1957, Major Rob...2024-11-2402 min
HERITAGE MINUTEBlodgett Peak's 1943 C-49-J Crash SiteThe Academy is home to a large number of impressive static display aircraft. In addition to those in populated areas, there is one aircraft well off the beaten path, just to the west of the Academy, that predates the others by decades. ----more----
It is a static display of sorts, though decidedly not on purpose. And it is way up there, on the side of Blodgett Peak. Let’s go have a look!
The mountain on which the aircraft rests towers over the Academy at the southwest corner of the campus. It is named for pionee...2024-11-1702 min
HERITAGE MINUTEKAFA: The Academy's Radio Station
KAFA, the Academy's cadet-run radio station began broadcasting at 6:57 p.m., under the direction of Cadet John Severski ’71. ----more----
In early 1971, singer-songwriter Don McLean wrote and recorded one of the most iconic songs in history, “American Pie.” The song addressed the Feb. 3, 1959, death of singer Buddy Holly, describing it as “The Day the Music Died.” While McLean was working on his masterpiece, the Air Force Academy experienced “The Day the Music Was Born.” At 6:57 p.m. on Sunday evening, Jan. 17, 1971, KAFA went on the air for the first time.
- Copy credit, Steve Simon ’77
2024-11-1714 min
HERITAGE MINUTEKAFA 97.7 FM: USAFA'S Radio StationLots of colleges and universities have radio stations, but there is only one KAFA! ----more----
The station was the brainchild of then-Cadet John Severski, Class of ’71, and came into being only due to the perseverance and ingenuity of John, several other like-minded cadets, and a few supportive USAFA staff members. It was a classic Do-It-Yourself project, as they begged, borrowed, and scrounged the necessary equipment to build a studio in Vandenberg Hall. When Academy officials applied for a broadcast license, they requested that the call letters be either KAFA or KDET (pronounced “cadet”). Obviously, the FCC approved KAFA. At...2024-11-1002 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Biggest Permanent Mural in the WorldThe Air Force Academy houses one of the largest permanently hung murals in the world. ----more----
The work of art is located on the north wall of the Cadet Field House multipurpose area. Forty feet high and 320 feet wide, it consists of four panels. Each quarter panel is set in a different season and depicts one year in the life of an Air Force Academy cadet. The first panel portrays the Academy in summer and shows typical events in the life of a Doolie. Three-degrees, or sophomores, have the autumn; two-degrees winter; and Firsties spring. The painting shows...2024-11-0301 min
HERITAGE MINUTEA Legacy of Leadership and Scholarship - Gen. (Ret.) Steve Lorenz ’73Gen. (Ret.) Steve Lorenz (R) graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1973 and went on to participate in some of the most impactful moments in our nation’s history. Hear a few of his stories in this edition of the Heritage Minute Special podcast with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 (L).
GEN. LORENZ' BIO
GEN. (RET.) STEPHEN R. LORENZ ’73
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FALCON FOUNDATION
RECOMMENDED READING: LORENZ ON LEADERSHIP
Nothing speaks better to the subject of effectiv...2024-11-0326 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Home of Falcons HockeyOne of the three sporting venues in the Cadet Field House is the 2,600-seat Cadet Ice Rink. ----more----
Like the other facilities in the huge building, it saw its first use in 1968 -- May fourth, to be precise -- when Olympic gold medal winner Peggy Fleming skated at the dedication. The primary tenant of the rink, as you might imagine, is the Falcon ice hockey team. The first game on the rink was an 8-6 victory over the Colorado All-Stars, a collection of former collegians, in an exhibition game played on November twenty-ninth, 1968. During the first shift of t...2024-10-2702 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA'S Clune Arena - Home Falcon BasketballCovering nearly five acres of terrain and encompassing three distinct sporting areas, the Cadet Field House plays host to a number of events, not all athletic in nature. The largest of the three venues, in terms of seating capacity, is Clune Arena. ----more----
This 6,200-seat venue is best known as the home of Falcon basketball, but also hosts volleyball, wrestling, and the annual Wing Open boxing championships. The arena’s first basketball game was played on November thirtieth, 1968, a loss to the University of Colorado. The first victory came two days later as the Falcons defeated Valparaiso. In addi...2024-10-2001 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Cavernous Cadet Field House
The Air Force Academy’s cavernous Cadet Field House contains facilities for intercollegiate basketball, hockey, and track & field, among other sports and events. Sometimes IT'S mistakenly called Clune Arena.----more----
The Field House has not yet been named for any individual. The building, which contains more than 217,000-square feet of usable space, is actually three separate athletic venues under one very large, very flat roof. One of the three venues is Clune Arena, the area primarily used for basketball. Sharing space with Clune are the Cadet Ice Rink and the all-purpose area that is mostly utiliz...2024-10-1301 min
HERITAGE MINUTEHow the Wings of Blue got its Start - A Heritage Minute SpecialIt all started in the spring of 1962 when a band of bootleg jumpers made their first parachute jumps as cadets. ----more----
Using condemned SERE rigs and local aviation pilots, these cadets made several jumps in the Colorado area. During that spring, a few cadets by the names of Aronoff, Davis, Kelley, McCurdy and Sijan – at their own risk and expense–made a number of demonstration and competition jumps to include our 1st collegiate-national appearance in Wisconsin winning a gold medal. They had no sanctioning from the Academy; truthfully, the Academy had no idea. When words of their jump...2024-10-0635 min
HERITAGE MINUTERemembering the T-38 TalonJust to the west of the Academy airfield is the Thunderbird Overlook. It contains two interesting static display aircraft: the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt and the Northrop T-38 Talon. ----more----
The Thunderbird Overlook was dedicated on June first, 1982, with Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr in attendance. According to the plaque at the site, the overlook “was created to remind the young men and women of the Air Force Cadet Wing of the pride, professionalism, discipline, dedication and teamwork that a career in the World’s finest Air Force demands!” The Thunderbirds flew the T-38 from 1974 until 1982...2024-10-0601 min
HERITAGE MINUTEBehemoth B-52: 1 - MIG: 0Can you believe this behemoth shot down a MiG? Well, it did!----more----
Located at the intersection of North Gate and Stadium Boulevards is a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, tail number 50083. On December twenty-fourth, 1972, the bomber known as “Diamond Lil” became one of two B-52Ds credited with a confirmed MiG kill in the Vietnam conflict. During the bombing mission out of U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield in southern Thailand, the bomber's tail gunner, Airman First Class Albert Moore, shot down a MiG-21 northeast of Hanoi during “Linebacker II” action. It was the last confirmed kill by a tail gunner...2024-09-2902 min
HERITAGE MINUTEA-10 Warthog - The Chopper PopperThe Thunderbird Overlook near the south end of the Academy is home to two static display aircraft: the Northrop T-38 Talon and the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt (aka the Warthog). ----more----
This particular A-10 is amazing. It is known as “The Chopper Popper.” Flying this plane on February sixth, 1991, Captain Robert Swain, Class of ’79, scored the first ever air-to-air victory in an A-10, shooting down an Iraqi Bo 105C helicopter during combat operations over Iraq. On September seventh, 2002, the A-10 was dedicated and took its place at the Overlook. The A-10 is one of three static display aircraft at...2024-09-2201 min
HERITAGE MINUTEOn Silver Wings - The Tuskegee Airmen
A bronze statue in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen is on display outside Harmon Hall on the Academy’s Honor Court. The plaque affixed to the statue’s base reads: Quote: “They rose from adversity through competence, courage, commitment and capacity to serve America on silver wings and to set a standard few will transcend.” Unquote. The statue, completed by Tuskegee Airman and artist Clarence Shivers, was unveiled and donated to the Academy in 1988 by the Hook-Jones Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. A wreath-laying ceremony is conducted at the site each year.
The term “Tuskegee Airmen”...2024-09-1501 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Harmon MemorialJust to the west of the Cadet Chapel, concealed by a stand of pine trees, is a bronze statue honoring Lieutenant General Hubert Harmon, the first superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy. ----more----
The first graduating class — the Class of 1959 — dedicated the statue in 2009 during its 40-year reunion. Character, education and leadership are the values inscribed on the monument, and are meant to inspire future generations of cadets. Harmon was a graduate of the West Point Class of 1915, known as “the class the stars fell on” for its large contingent of general officers – 59 generals, or 36% of the class...2024-09-0802 min
HERITAGE MINUTE"Honor Bound" A Portrait in Courage - A Heritage Minute Special Heritage Minute host, Steve Simon recently welcomed Jim Nance, USAFA Class of ’71, and Major Joe Flescher, Class of ’14 to the studio. Jim is a renowned sculptor and created the 2,000 lb. "Honor Bound - A Portrait in Courage" plaque now mounted on the east exterior wall of USAFA's Southeast Asia Pavilion. Maj. Flescher served as his model.
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Jim Nance has made a name for himself by being an amazing sculptor. Examples of his work abound at the Academy, including at the Air Warrior Combat Memorial near the B-52 inside the North Gate and on the Heritage...2024-09-0118 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Capt. Lance P. Sijan Memorial StatueThe United States Air Force Academy has one graduate Medal of Honor recipient. His name is Lance Peter Sijan, Class of 1965. ----more----
To honor him, a bronze sculpture of Sijan is on display at the Southeast Asia Plaza of Heroes. Situated on the Heritage Trail adjacent to the Association of Graduates’ Doolittle Hall, the work of art was dedicated on November 6, 2015. Sculpted by artist Jim Nance, Class of 1971, the sculpture depicts Sijan’s perseverance and determination. On November 9, 1967, First Lieutenant Sijan was reported missing when he ejected from his disabled F-4C aircraft during a night bombing mission n...2024-09-0102 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Belk Falcon Statue
Just outside of Falcon Stadium, on the east side, soars the largest falcon statue in the United States. ----more----
The bronze sculpture, valued at $400,000, has a wingspan of 24 feet and weighs 10,000 pounds. Jon Hair, the “Official Sculptor to the United States Olympic Team,” created it. Dedicated on August 29th, 2008, the sculpture was given to the Academy by philanthropist Irwin “Ike” Belk, who was present at the dedication. He commissioned the statue “to honor United States Air Force Academy graduates for their selfless service to our nation.” Belk, who passed away in 2018, served in the intelligence career field in Europe d...2024-08-2501 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Commander in Chief's Trophy
In the “old” days, (the fifties, sixties and early seventies), Army and Navy were afraid to play the Falcons in Colorado – something about the altitude. ----more----
Games were played in New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C, and Baltimore, among other places, but not until 1966 did Navy venture out here, followed by Army the following year. Neither was eager to return. Former Air Force Academy Athletic Director George Simler conceived a way to get them into Falcon Stadium regularly – the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Begun in 1972, the annual round-robin tournament sees the three schools vie for football supre...2024-08-1801 min
HERITAGE MINUTEGame Day 1962 - Falcon Stadium EventsThe Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium has played host to countless significant events since its opening in 1962. The first event was, appropriately, a football game. ----more----
Cadet and later four-star general John Lorber, Class of ’64, scored the first touchdown in the 34-0 win over in-state rival Colorado State. Navy first played here in 1966, while Army made its initial visit a year later, in 1967. Other gridiron highlights include 1985’s fourth consecutive victory over Notre Dame, a game that turned on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown, and the 1997 win over San Diego State that marked the first...2024-08-1102 min
HERITAGE MINUTEFalcon Stadium - Home of the Fighting FalconsFalcon Stadium, home of the Air Force Fighting Falcons, has a rich history. Plans for the facility date back to 1955, the year the first cadets reported to the Academy’s temporary home at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver. ----more----
Rather than build the stadium near the Cadet Area, designers chose a natural bowl approximately two miles southeast of the campus. The Air Force Academy Foundation provided the funding for the $3.5 million facility. Groundbreaking took place in October 1960, and less than two years later, the stadium was ready for action. On September 22nd, 1962, the first football game was pla...2024-08-0402 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThings you Might not Know About Jimmy Doolittle - A Heritage Minute SpecialIn this Heritage Minute Special, Col. (Ret.) John Abbatiello, PhD., author and historian, talks with host, Steve Simon ’77 about his work deep researching and studying the life and times of WWII pilot, Jim Doolittle. ----more----
Most commonly known for leading his “Raiders” into battle during WWII, Gen. Jimmy Doolittle’s life and work extended far beyond his time as a pilot. Heritage Minute Special guest, Col. (Ret.) John Abbatiello, Ph.D., shares a few little known facts about the famous pilot. Enjoy Episode 5 of the Heritage Minute Special!
The Heritage Minute Chan...2024-08-0419 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Spaces for Buddhists and Other FaithsThe Cadet Chapel and surrounding areas provide worship spaces to accommodate virtually every cadet interest. ----more----
The Buddhist Chapel, known as the Vast Refuge Dharma Hall, was dedicated on 29 October 2007. It is located in the downstairs area, just to the north of the Jewish Chapel. The chapel was the gift of the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism and The Friends of Zen. An Air Force Academy graduate from its first class, the Class of 1959, was instrumental in its creation: Friends of Zen founder and Vice Abbot, Reverend Dai En Hi Fu (DIE EN HE FU) Georg...2024-07-2802 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Jewish ChapelThe Jewish Chapel shares the downstairs area of the Cadet Chapel with the Catholic and Buddhist worship spaces. ----more----
The architecture is a circle within a square, symbolizing a tent, and paying tribute to the global mission of the Air Force and the everlasting presence of God. Mr. Ludwig Wolpert of the New York Jewish Museum designed the chapel interior. The Chapel seats 100. Its walls are made of panels of translucent glass separated by stanchions of Israeli cypress. Normally, paintings of human images are not found in Jewish synagogues, but the Academy is different, as it features the n...2024-07-2102 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Catholic ChapelOccupying the bulk of the Cadet Chapel’s lower level is the Catholic Chapel. Called Our Lady of the Skies, the space was designed to give the impression of being a grotto. ----more----
The walls are made of panels of amber glass, giving the effect of dust and dirt. The glass is set between aluminum strips that amplify the sound of the wind. The Chapel seats 500, with room for another 100 in the choir loft. The screen behind the altar measures 18 by 45 feet. It portrays the coming together of all elements of the universe. It contains two ten-foot-tall Italian C...2024-07-1403 min
HERITAGE MINUTEChief Master SGT. (Ret.) Bob Vasquez - A Heritage Minute SpecialChief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Bob Vasquez has a deep history serving the Long Blue Line, including at the Air Force Academy. ----more----
In this edition of the Heritage Minute Special with host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ‘77, the two longtime friends and colleagues sit down to talk about leadership, Vasquez’s military career and his recent recognition as an honorary member of the Association of Graduates.
PHOTO ALBUM: Honorary AOG Member Award Ceremony
CHIEF IN THE NEWS: Role Model for Cadets
Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Bob Vásquez, third from lef...2024-07-0720 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Protestant Chapel
The Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel stands alone as the only chapel at a service academy that accommodates all faith groups under one roof. ----more----
Upstairs, under the pinnacled ceiling that soars 99 feet overhead, you will find the Protestant Chapel. The stunning sanctuary featured walls – actually it is all ceiling – made of tetrahedron-shaped spires and more than 24,000 blocks of stained glass. There are 24 different shades of glass, with more than half of those being tones of blue. The colors graduate from dark in the back of the room to light at the front, to symbolize coming f...2024-07-0703 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's Iconic Cadet ChapelThe Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel soars 150 feet into the thin Colorado air. Its 17 spires evoke the mountains that form its backdrop, jets flying in formation, and raised sabres. ----more----
After winning a spirited national competition to earn the right to design the Air Force Academy, the Chicago-based firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill put 34-year-old architect Walter Netsch in charge of the Chapel’s design. The strikingly modern Cadet Chapel became his most famous creation. It has received several architectural awards and appeared in countless magazines that extolled its beauty. Today, its beauty is unquestioned, but the design...2024-06-3003 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe POW Memorial - Remembering USAFA's Prisoners of WarThe Association of Graduates’ Heritage Trail includes the POW Memorial Sculpture. Located at the entrance of the Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion, it contains the names of the 33 Academy graduates who were prisoners of war in Vietnam. ----more----
It also lists the dates of their captivity and, if applicable, release. Unfortunately, two graduates died in captivity: Captains Lance Sijan, Class of ’65, and Michael Bosiljevac, Class of ’67. Nineteen of those POWs, as well as family members of the deceased, attended the sculpture’s dedication ceremony on April 24th, 2015. General Ron Yates, Class of ’60, initiated and oversaw the project. In addition to his c...2024-06-2302 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion - A Most Commanding EdificeThe largest and most commanding structure on the Heritage Trail is the Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion. A gift of the Class of ‘70, it was dedicated on October first, 2010, during the class’s 40-year reunion. ----more----
The facility pays homage to Air Force Academy graduates who served and sacrificed during the Southeast Asia conflict. Plaques list each of the 150 Academy graduates who died in the war, from the Classes of 1959 to 1972. Other plaques pay tribute to our sister service academies. The Pavilion has nine granite benches, one for each of the Class of ’70 graduates killed in the war, and a flag...2024-06-1602 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Pegasus Statue - The Story Behind this Special GiftIn the traffic circle outside Doolittle Hall, the Air Force Academy alumni headquarters, is a remarkable sculpture of Pegasus. ----more----
This winged horse, a gift from the Italian government, has been on the Academy grounds since before our first class graduated. The Pegasus statue is a replica of one displayed at the Italian Air War College in Florence. In mythology, Pegasus is noted for invincibility in war, as well as glory, knowledge and inspiration. The sculpture stands more than 10 feet tall and weighs eight and a half tons. The ball on the base represents planet earth. The marbl...2024-06-0902 min
HERITAGE MINUTEDistinguished Graduate Pedestals - Commemorating USAFA Grads of DistinctionAn important part of the Association of Graduates’ commitment to heritage is recognizing and honoring the Academy’s most outstanding graduates. ----more----
While every graduate contributes in his or her own way, some are worthy of special recognition. The AOG’s Heritage Trail contains pedestals dedicated to the Distinguished Graduate Award recipients. The Distinguished Graduate Award recognizes exceptional graduates who have set themselves apart by making extraordinarily significant contributions to our nation and/or their communities. The award, jointly presented by the AOG and the Academy, was established in 1999 and first presented during Founders Day 2002. The initial recipients...2024-06-0202 min
HERITAGE MINUTE45 Years Serving the Long Blue Line - A Heritage Minute SpecialIn the waning days of his 45-year career serving and supporting the Long Blue Line, Maj. (Ret.) Tom Kroboth was inducted as an honorary member of the Association of Graduates during a Dec. 5, 2023 ceremony.----more----
Reprinted from the March 2024 issue of Checkpoints Magazine
Written by Jeff Holmquist
“This is certainly long overdue,” Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Hans Mueh ’66, a member of the AOG board of directors, commented during the gathering. “What a special and distinguished career supporting USAFA and its graduates.”
Kroboth has long been considered a valued part of the USAFA family — a key contrib...2024-06-0223 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Challenge Bridge - "To Each Incoming Cadet..."A key feature of the Heritage Trail at Doolittle Hall is the Challenge Bridge. The bridge was commissioned by the Academy’s first graduating class, the Class of ’59, and their surrogate upperclassmen, the Air Training Officers. ----more----
It was dedicated on June 17th, 2004, when members of the class were at the Academy for their 45-year reunion. The stone and mortar structure serves as a gateway to the Heritage Trail and was intended to inspire cadets to reflect on the oath of service and commitment they had chosen for their lives. Before crossing the bridge, the cadets, who aspire...2024-05-2602 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe Heritage Trail - Celebrating Graduate AccomplishmentsOne of the three missions of the Association of Graduates is to promote the heritage of the Academy and the accomplishments of its graduates. One very visible representation of this undertaking is the Heritage Trail, located adjacent to Doolittle Hall, the AOG’s headquarters building. ----more----
It is part memorial, part inspirational park, part museum, and part educational facility. The Heritage Trail concept dates back to 2002. The Class of ’60 led the way, while the Classes of ’69 and ’73 provided additional funding for the first phase. Since then, new features have been added by other classes. At the head of the trail i...2024-05-1902 min
HERITAGE MINUTEHow Doolittle Hall Got its Name - Heritage MinuteSeason 2 of Heritage Minute with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 is under way! In this episode, a walk-through of the Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation headquarters named for Gen. James "Jimmy" Doolittle.----more----
Located on 24 acres of land on the Air Force Academy, just southeast of the Cadet Area, is Doolittle Hall, the Association of Graduates’ headquarters building. The facility is named for General James “Jimmie” Doolittle, who led the April 1942 raid on Tokyo that gave a huge morale boost to the United States and its allies.
Groundbreaking for the alumni house took place...2024-05-1202 min
HERITAGE MINUTEEyewitness to Operation Homecoming - A Story Untold for 50 YearsPenny Grossman served 21 years of active duty as an Air Force nurse. In 1973, She was stationed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines during Operation Homecoming, when nearly 600 American Prisoners of War were freed. The first leg of their journey home took them from Hanoi to Clark Air Base, where Penny witnessed their first steps of freedom.
She has not spoken of these difficult memories in 50 years.
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Operation Homecoming image credit: whoa.org, Mr. Don Quigley, contributor
THE BACKSTORY
This Heritage Minute special presentation is guest-hosted by...2024-05-0529 min
HERITAGE MINUTEHonoring the Greatest of the Greats - Heritage MinuteThe primary goal of the United States Air Force Academy is to educate, train, and inspire men and women to become leaders of character for the nation. ----more----One great way to do this is by exposing cadets to individuals who embody the selflessness, grit, and other characteristics we work to instill in them. No group of leaders has demonstrated these values better than Medal of Honor recipients. Here, on the second floor of Fairchild Hall is the Academy’s Medal of Honor Wall. It features the names and likenesses of all members of the Air Force and its predecessor organi...2024-05-0506 min
HERITAGE MINUTEWe ARE Meant to Fly! - Heritage MinuteDive into the story behind the Col. Richard Gimbel Aeronautical Library, located at the top floor of USAFA's McDermott Library!----more----
On the sixth floor of the Academy’s McDermott Library is a temperature — and humidity-controlled room that houses one of the institution’s most historic collections. The Colonel Richard Gimbel Aeronautical History Collection — totaling about 20,000 items — is one of the world's best collections of artifacts and publications documenting the human dream of flight. Gimbel, a military aviator during World War II and an heir to the Gimbel's Department Store fortune, began collecting aeronautical memorabilia after buying a trunk full...2024-04-2803 min
HERITAGE MINUTEFirst in Flight! - The Wright Brothers Display - Heritage Minute
One of the most interesting areas in the McDermott Library is the stunning circular staircase pinnacled by a replica of the Wright Brothers' airplane.
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The aviation pioneers, appropriately enough, occupy the uppermost region of the facility, at the top of the striking three-story spiral staircase. The geometrical staircase was designed to satisfy the Superintendent, Lieutenant General Hubert Harmon. Harmon didn’t care for the rigid, square Modernist architectural style, so the Academy project’s lead designer, Walter Netsch, designed the staircase to provide General Harmon with some variety. By the time the Orville...2024-04-2102 min
HERITAGE MINUTEA Collection that Inspired The Great Escape - Heritage MinuteDisplayed along the spiral staircase of USAFA’s McDermott Library is an impressive collection of rifles used by U.S. troops throughout the ages. ----more----
The collection of 31 military shoulder arms dates from 1763 to the 1970s. Donated by Lieutenant General Albert P. Clark, sixth superintendent of the Academy and a prisoner of war during World War II, the rifle collection tracks the evolution of arms through the decades — from the early single-shot muzzleloader to fully automatic weapons. Some of the earliest firearms on display are a French Charleville Musket and a British “Brown Bess” musket — used during the Revoluti...2024-04-1402 min
HERITAGE MINUTEMystery, History and Stories - A Heritage Minute SpecialHave you met the “USAFA Before USAFA History Guy?”----more----
Col. (Ret.) Jack Anthony ‘78 (R) is the Academy’s recognized authority on our “pre-history,” which has earned him the handle, “USAFA Before USAFA History Guy.” Join Jack and Heritage Minute host, Steve Simon '77 (L), as they share stories about a of few of Jack's favorite historical sites on Academy grounds — and some untold stories as well!
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Airforce Academy Association and Foundation
2024-04-0719 min
HERITAGE MINUTEThe USAFA Graduate War Memorial - Heritage MinuteSituated at the north end of the Air Garden on the Academy Cadet area’s Terrazzo, just under the flagpole proudly displaying the American flag, is the Academy’s Graduate War Memorial. ----more----
The idea for the memorial was conceived by Captain Richard T. Mathews, from the Class of 1960, who served as the first alumni secretary. The $24,000 cost of constructing the memorial was covered by donations by graduates and parents of graduates. The memorial was eventually presented by the Association of Graduates to the Cadet Wing on October 10, 1970. The names of Air Force Academy graduates who have lost th...2024-04-0702 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's 70th Birthday - Heritage Minute In the NewsWATCH! HERITAGE MINUTE IN THE NEWS
It’s the Air Force Academy’s 70th year bringing up great leaders who go on to serve the nation in uniform!----more----
You might be surprised at what you don't know about the institution or its founding. Heritage Minute podcast host, Steve Simon, a 1977 USAFA grad, recently joined Fox 21’s, Krista Witiak, for a fun, rapid-fire Q & A about the school’s history and heritage! Watch now!
Credit and Special Thanks:
KXRM FOX21, Colorado Springs, CO; Krista Witiak, FOX21 reporter; Shane Crigger, Fox21 News Director, and Dean...2024-04-0305 min
HERITAGE MINUTEF-15A & F-16A — Heritage MinuteA pair of fighter jets on display at the Academy played key roles in our national defense! Steve Simon ’77 has their story!----more----
In this episode of Heritage Minute with Steve Simon '77, the stories behind the F-15A and F-16A fighters on display at the west end of the Terrazzo in the cadet area. These aircraft represent planes that have been flown by countless Academy graduates, and have recently played key roles in America's national defense.
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcas...2024-03-3102 min
HERITAGE MINUTEFlashing Back to the F-105D ThunderchiefIn this episode of the Heritage Minute podcast, host Steve Simon '77, flashes back to May 1968 when the F-105D Thunderchief static display on the USAFA Terrazzo was dedicated.----more----
What happened next resulted in 300 broken windows, more than $50,000 in damage and a grounded pilot. How did it happen? And did the pilot ever fly again? Get the full story in this episode of the Heritage Minute podcast.
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Airforce Aca...2024-03-2402 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's F-4D Phantom IIThe grassy center of the Academy Cadet Area’s Terrazzo open space features a static display aircraft on each of its four corners. ----more----
The most historically significant is the McDonnell-Douglas F-4D Phantom II located on the southeast corner near Mitchell Hall and the Air Garden. It is the only aircraft since the Korean War to be credited with six MiG kills, all of which took place in 1972. Not only that, but two Air Force Academy Class of 1964 graduates recorded half of those kills. Captain Steve Ritchie, the Academy’s first graduate pilot ace and the Air Force’s only pilot...2024-03-1703 min
HERITAGE MINUTEUSAFA's 9/11 Memorial - Heritage MinuteThe 9/11 Memorial was dedicated on September 9, 2011, as part of the Class of 1976's 35th reunion class giving project. The memorial incorporates an actual girder from the World Trade Center.
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The memorial features two granite slabs, representing the Twin Towers, atop a five-sided foundation that represents the Pentagon. The words, "World Trade Center," "The Pentagon" and "Shanksville, Pa." are etched onto the memorial.
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Airforce Academy Association and Foundation
2024-03-1403 min
HERITAGE MINUTEHeritage Minute Podcast Introduction
Welcome to the Heritage Minute Podcast Channel!
----more----One key mission of the Association of Graduates is to highlight some of those things that make the Academy the special place that it is.
Whether it’s a statue honoring a war hero, a static display of historic aircraft or a collection of important memorabilia, these reminders help tell the story of USAFA and the big Air Force through the decades.
Heritage Minute Podcast Channel Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon '77
The Heritage Minute Channel and...2024-03-0201 min