JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, Washington, D.C. (AFNS) —
Sixteen years in the past, former President George W. Bush, devoted the United States Air Force Memorial with these phrases.
“A Soldier can walk the battlefields where he once fought; a Marine can walk the beaches he once stormed, but an Airman can never visit the patch of sky he raced across on a mission to defend freedom.”
So how do you stroll the house?
Three silvery spires emerge from a excessive elevation level to soar up, arching, and narrowing till they appear to vanish into the air. They virtually appear to be plane or missile contrails, however their stainless-steel frames signify the facility to flee the bonds of earth. Meant to additionally describe the grace of flight, the Air Force Memorial additionally honors the dedication, heroism, and sacrifice of the members who’ve served the reason for American airpower.
Offset under the spires is a larger-than-life, meticulously detailed statue of the Honor Guard. They stand at one finish of a parade floor marked by paths that resemble World War II runways. The runways are enclosed on two ends by black granite partitions that comprise quotes from famous Air Force and Air Corps leaders about service values and excerpts from letters of Airmen serving their nation removed from house.
The north granite wall comprises the names of Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force Medal of Honor recipients with their hometowns etched alongside. Our heroes come from throughout our nation. In entrance of the north granite engravings is the glass contemplation wall, etched with the photographs of F-16s in a lacking man formation, the place you might discover remembrances of these we’ve misplaced.
Back in 2006, President Bush went on to say, “… from this day forward, the men and women of the Air Force will have this memorial, a place here on the ground that recognizes their achievements and sacrifices in the skies above.”
The Air Force Memorial belongs to us all – each Airmen, civilian, and contractor regardless of our affiliation – energetic responsibility, reservist, National Guard, ROTC and Junior ROTC, and Civil Air Patrol.
So, subsequent time you might be close to the Pentagon, cease on the Air Force Memorial and mirror on all you and your wingman have achieved in securing the air and house energy for this nation.
