United States Air Force Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids U.S. Air Force Memorial |
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| United States Air Force | |
The Air Force Memorial as seen at night
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| For the service and sacrifices of the men and women of the United States Air Force and its predecessor organizations, including the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps; the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps; the Division of Military Aeronautics, Secretary of War; the Army Air Service; the U.S. Army Air Corps; and the U.S. Army Air Forces | |
| Established | 1992 |
| Unveiled | 14 October 2006 |
| Location | 38°52′07″N 77°03′59″W / 38.868649°N 77.066259°W |
| Designed by | James Ingo Freed (Pei Cobb Freed & Partners) |
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Integrity; Service; Excellence; Valor; Courage; Sacrifice
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| Statistics source: Air Force Association Air Force Memorial Foundation |
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The United States Air Force Memorial is a special place that honors all the brave men and women who have served in the United States Air Force. It also remembers the groups that came before the Air Force. You can find this memorial in Arlington County, Virginia. It's close to important places like The Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. A famous architect named James Ingo Freed designed this memorial. It was one of his last big projects.
Building the Memorial
In 1992, a group called the Air Force Memorial Foundation started. Their goal was to create a memorial for Air Force members. In 1993, President Bill Clinton officially approved the idea. The group then began raising money and drawing up plans.
They first chose a spot near the Marine Corps War Memorial. Some people, including a Marine veteran in Congress, didn't like this location. They worried it was too close to the Marine memorial. There was a big discussion about where the memorial should be built.
After some time, the Foundation decided to move the memorial. They chose a new spot on the grounds of Fort Myer. This new location is still in Arlington, Virginia.
In 2001, President George W. Bush signed a bill. This bill allowed the Air Force Memorial Foundation to use land for the memorial. Construction officially began in September 2004. The tall spires of the memorial started going up in February 2006. They were finished just seven months later.
The memorial was officially opened on October 14, 2006. About 30,000 people came to the dedication ceremony. President George W. Bush, who used to be an Air Force pilot, gave a speech. The very next day, the first official ceremony was held there. A wreath was placed to honor fallen airmen.
President Bush spoke about the memorial, saying:
To all who have climbed sunward and chased the shouting wind, America stops to say: your service and your sacrifice will be remembered forever, and honored in this place by the citizens of a free and grateful nation.
- — President George W. Bush at acceptance ceremony.
Since 2017, the Air Force District of Washington has managed the memorial's daily activities. The Air Force Memorial Foundation still exists. It works with the Air Force Association.
Memorial Design
The memorial has three tall spires that look like they are soaring into the sky. They are made of shiny stainless steel. The spires remind people of the "contrails" left by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. These are the smoke trails they make when they fly in a special "bomb burst" maneuver.
There are only three spires, not four. This is to represent the "missing man formation." This is a special fly-over where one plane is missing. It's a way to honor pilots who have passed away.
The spires are very strong. The bottom part of each spire is filled with concrete. The top part is hollow stainless steel. Inside, there are special parts called "dampers." These help the spires stay steady in the wind. Each damper has a heavy lead ball that rolls inside a steel box. This stops the spires from swaying too much.
As you walk towards the spires, you'll see some amazing statues. There are four bronze statues that are eight feet tall. They represent the United States Air Force Honor Guard. These statues were made by an artist named Zenos Frudakis.
To the north, there's a special glass wall. It has images of four F-16 jets flying in a missing man formation. This is the only part of the memorial that shows actual aircraft.
There are also two large granite walls. They are 56 feet long and 10 feet tall. One wall lists the names of Air Force members who received the Medal of Honor. The other wall has important quotes about the Air Force's main values. These values are "integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do."
One name was removed from the Medal of Honor wall. It was the name of Colonel William "Billy" Mitchell. His name was put there by mistake. He was actually awarded a different medal, the Congressional Gold Medal. The space where his name was removed is still visible on the wall.
Events at the Memorial
Many people visit the Air Force Memorial each year. Over 350,000 visitors come to see it. The memorial also hosts more than 300 special events. These include military ceremonies, weddings, and funerals.
During the summer, the United States Air Force Band performs concerts there. You can enjoy their music every Friday night.
