USAFA'S Exceptional Collector

HERITAGE MINUTE

#Podcasting Education #History #Heritageminutes

1:00:36

Do you have fond childhood memories of summer camp? For a chance at $250,000, campers must compete in a series of summer camp-themed challenges to prove that they are unbeatable, unhateable, and unbreakable. Host Chris Burns is joined by the multi-talented comedian Dana Moon to recap the first five episodes of season one of Battle Camp . Plus, Quori-Tyler (aka QT) joins the podcast to dish on the camp gossip, team dynamics, and the Watson to her Sherlock Holmes. Leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/WeHaveTheReceipts Text us at (929) 487-3621 DM Chris @FatCarrieBradshaw on Instagram Follow We Have The Receipts wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.…

about a year ago 14:34

MP3•Episode home

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 Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation

73 episodes

USAFA'S Exceptional Collector

HERITAGE MINUTE

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

In this edition of Heritage Minute Special, host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 is holding a reunion of sorts. ----more----

The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation

73 episodes

#Podcasting Education #History #Heritageminutes

All episodes

HERITAGE MINUTE

1
USAFA's Battle Ramp - A Legacy of Tradition 2:20

13 days ago2:20

2:20

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 Samuel Walter Foss entitled The Coming American, first read at a fourth of July celebration in Connecticut in 1894 it contains the lines, "Bring me men to match my mountains. Bring me men to match my plains. Men with empire in their purpose and new eras in their brains." The words began to seem incongruous in 1976 when female cadets enrolled for the first time, as demonstrated by the iconic photo of appointee Julie Richards at in-processing. After decades of discussion and controversy, on March 28, 2003 the phrase Bring Me Men was removed from its spot over the battle ramp. On September 29, 2004 the words "Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in all We Do, were unveiled above the ramp. A black gate protecting the ramp was added in 2001 is the result of security measures instituted in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Before then, the ramp was wide open. The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

1
USAFA's Cemetery Part 3 of 4 - Stunning Structures 2:47

27 days ago2:47

2:47

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 same architecture as the memorial pavilion. It contains kiosks allowing visitors to locate any grave marker and learn about the lives of the deceased. The Memorial Wall, dedicated in 1981, contains plaques from air related units, commemorating their service and acknowledging their comrades who died as a result of combat. The 40 foot tall American Legion Memorial tower was also dedicated in 1981 in memory of those who have served their country from the Revolutionary War to the present. The tower was originally located on the Hill west of the Cadet Chapel. It was moved here in October 1996. A bronze sculpture of an Air Force honor guard was installed in October 2007. The eight foot tall statue, a gift from Mr. Ross Perot, is a replica of the Statue of the United States Air Force Memorial in Washington, DC. The Airman on the Meadow and Winged Refuge statues located near the memorial pavilion were dedicated in November 2011. The uplifted arm of the airmen evokes the John Gillespie McGee poem, High Flight, while the Winged Refuge is a set of 17 1/2' foot Art Deco wings that honor aviation and its relevance to the Academy. Mission. The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

1
USAFA's Cemetery Part 4 of 4 - Eligibility 2:10

27 days ago2:10

2:10

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 military personnel assigned at USAFA at the time of their deaths. USAFA graduates all active duty and retired Air Force four star generals and lieutenant generals, specific former Academy senior staffers, original cadre from the Lowry days and mid-70s air training officers who supported the enrollment of the first female cadets, specific relatives of eligible members and Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross recipients. The instruction also has a waiver process. The 10th Air Base Wing Commander can disapprove a request for exception, but only the superintendent can approve an exception. These criteria and acres of space to expand ensure that eligible individuals can continue to be buried here far into the future. The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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USAFA's Cemetery Part 2 of 4 - A Final Resting Place 2:47

5 weeks ago2:47

2:47

The 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 leaders. At the risk of omitting noteworthy individuals. Here are some of those who are buried here. General Carl Spots, the first Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Three other chiefs of staff, Generals Curtis LeMay, John McConnell and John Ryan. Eight superintendents, including the first six, Captain Valmore Bork, Class of '60, the first graduate killed in combat. He shares this hallowed ground with dozens of other graduates and heroes who gave their lives in defense of the United States. Master Sergeant William Crawford, United States Army, the only Medal of Honor recipient in the cemetery and the first enlisted person to be buried here. Notably, he was a janitor in Sijan Hall, a cadet dormitory when a classmate of mine, Cadet Jim Moschgat, uncovered his story while reading about World War II; Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Harris, Korean War POW held in solitary confinement for 14 months, and author of the Contrails quote, “Many of us learned as doolies, if I can't go back with my self respect, I won't go back at all.” Colonel Lee Black, the first Preparatory School commander; Captain Charles Bush, Class of '63, the first black graduate; Brigadier General Robin Olds, triple ace and former commandant of cadets. A 100 acre site has room to grow in hopes of serving graduates and heroes long into the future. The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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USAFA's Historic Cemetery Part 1 of 4 1:55

6 weeks ago1:55

1:55

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 Denver, General Order Number 32 established the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery. Less than a week later, on 28 September, the initial funeral was held. Appropriately, that ceremony honored Lieutenant General Hubert Harmon. Sadly, the Academy’s first Superintendent had not survived to see the Class of ’59, USAFA’s first class, graduate. On 22 February 1957, he had passed away at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, due to cancer. The entire Cadet Wing, as well as the Academy staff and hundreds of relatives and friends, participated in the ceremony. It was the first occasion on which the Cadet Wing wore the all-white parade uniform designed by pioneering Hollywood movie director and producer Cecil B. DeMille. The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

1
The Discovery of a Legend 16:19

6 weeks ago16:19

16:19

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 Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

1
Where it All Began - The USAFA Founders Day Story 12:34

7 weeks ago12:34

12:34

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 Force chief of staff; Congressman Dewey Short, Missouri, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee; James H. Douglas, undersecretary of the Air Force, and Lt. Gen. Hubert R. Harmon, special assistant for the Academy. - (Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force Academy McDermott Library Archives) (Right Image) The first class of Air Force Academy cadets at the Academy's first home, Lowery AFB, Denver, CO. The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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The History Making USAFA Class of ’69 35:10

8 weeks ago35:10

35:10

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 Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

1
Historic Ice Lake 2:04

9 weeks ago2:04

2:04

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 Peak, and David Edgerton. Edgerton was the namesake of a town that emerged where Ice Lake is today. The local public school district, now called Academy District 20, got its start here in 1874. It was organized by County Superintendent Robert Douglass, whose name is tied to the Academy’s Douglass Valley. In its early days, the school district covered 36 square miles and The Edgerton School, located near the lake, was its only school. With the establishment of the Air Force Academy in the 1950s, the school district quadrupled in size, expanding to 130 square miles. The town of Edgerton, however, joined several other settlements on Academy grounds that disappeared. The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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USAFA'S Exceptional Collector 14:34

10 weeks ago14:34

14:34

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 Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

1
The Air Force Academy's Oldest Building is a Tiny Cabin 2:04

11 weeks ago2:04

2:04

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 Pioneer Cabin, was built by Burgess in 1871. It was re-named the “Capps” cabin because, when Falcon Stadium was built in 1962, graves of the Capps family were moved to the site of the Burgess cabin from their original burial site near where the stadium’s fifty-yard line is today. The five graves include Leonard and Mary Ann Capps. On 29 July 1961, Academy officials, led by Colonel Edward Stealy, deputy base commander, and the Palmer Lake Historical Society dedicated the cabin, as well as the Pioneer Cemetery. A plaque memorializing the members of the Capps family was unveiled, reading, “This cemetery symbolizes the many pioneer families who originally settled this region.” In January 1975, the cabin was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of Interior. The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

1
USAFA's Command Historian 21:44

12 weeks ago21:44

21:44

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 Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

1
A Gallery of Great Airmen 2:59

13 weeks ago2:59

2:59

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 General Mitchell objected to the use of his name for this purpose, and the organization was soon renamed “The Falcon Foundation.” The organization’s primary objective is to fund civilian prep school attendance for prospective cadets who did not receive direct entry into the Academy. The Falcon Foundation has been extraordinarily successful in this endeavor, having provided approximately 4,000 scholarships, the first three going to members of the Class of 1963. The number of Falcon Scholars who have graduated from the Academy is approaching 3,000. Included in that number are Bart Holaday, Class of 1965, the first Falcon Scholar to also become a Rhodes Scholar; General (Retired) William Looney, Class of 1972, the first Falcon Scholar to attain the rank of four-star general; and the two most recent past Air Force Chiefs, retired generals Mark Welsh III, Class of 1976, and David Goldfein, Class of 1983. The Falcon Foundation’s contribution to the Academy is by no means limited to scholarships and these paintings. Among its many other gifts to the Academy are the fifteen-foot bronze statue of an eagle on the trail between the Visitor Center and the Cadet Chapel, the Schlomo Katz paintings normally displayed in the Jewish Chapel, and General of the Air Force Henry “Hap” Arnold in front of Arnold Hall. The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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A Lifetime Chronicling and Preserving History 27:09

14 weeks ago27:09

27:09

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 Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

1
The Bell of Neuville Tolls a Story 2:25

15 weeks ago2:25

2:25

There is an artifact in the Academy’s Community Center area that predates the Academy by more than 140 years. ----more---- 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 churches in the area consolidated, with Neuville’s slated to be demolished. Caroline Antoinette was sold to raise funds. The purchasers donated it to a nearby U.S. Air Force Base. Unable to display it properly, in 1958, base leaders donated the bell, valued at $5,000, to the Air Force Academy. On 22 January 1967, the Base Chapel in the Community Center was dedicated, with the bell displayed in a 53-foot tower to the west of the building. Nearly three decades later, in October 1996, the tower and the bell were moved to their current location on the other side of the Chapel, to draw parishioners to the front entrance. On 11 November 2018, the Academy participated in a collaborative effort known as the “Bells of Peace” to mark the centennial of the Armistice that brought an end to World War I. Caroline Antoinette tolled at 11 a.m. to commemorate those who served and those who died in what Americans fervently hoped was the “War to End All Wars.” The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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The MOST Decorated Hockey Player in Academy History 26:19

16 weeks ago26:19

26:19

A 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 Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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USAFA's First Home: Lowry AFB 3:54

17 weeks ago3:54

3:54

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 be the Academy’s permanent home. He also tasked Lieutenant General Hubert Harmon with finding a temporary location in Denver while the Academy's permanent campus was being built. He chose, Lowry Air Force Base. Lowry has a rich history. The Denver branch of the Army Air Corps training school opened for business in the old Agnes Phipps tuberculosis sanitarium on October first, 1937. A few months after opening, it gained the name Lowry, in honor of Second Lieutenant Francis B. Lowry. A Denver native, he was killed in France during World War I aerial combat while serving as an artillery observer and aerial photographer for the Army Air Service. In the early 1950s, Lowry Air Force Base served as the Summer White House for President and Mrs. Eisenhower. Lowry hosted cadets for a little more than three years, from the Academy’s opening in 1955, until the whole operation moved to its permanent site in late August 1958. While at Lowry, the Academy established its academic, military, and athletic identities, formalized its Honor Code, chose the falcon as its mascot, and started many traditions that continue to this day. After the Academy moved south, Lowry continued on as a training installation. By 1966, however, commercial air traffic from nearby airports had increased and the city grew up around the base. Flying operations were ended due to concerns about crashes into surrounding residential areas. In 1991, the Commission on Base Realignment and Closure recommended the base’s closure, citing savings by consolidating training at other locations, the lack of active runways, and the base’s high resale potential. Lowry Air Force Base ceased to exist on 30 September 1994. More than a quarter-century later, many remnants of the base remain, and the Academy’s former presence is still felt. One important structure, Building 880, which served as the Commandant of Cadet’s office, was added to the National Register of Historic Places during a dedication ceremony on September fourth 2007. Here in Lowry's Hangar One, now home of the Wings Over the Rockies Museum, is a display highlighting the early years of the Academy. Other Lowry buildings that remain from the Academy years include “The U” Academic buildings, the Eisenhower Chapel, and Hangars One and Two. The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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From Cadet to Senator and President 28:22

18 weeks ago28:22

28:22

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 Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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A Heritage Minute Special Special! 36:30

19 weeks ago36:30

36:30

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 Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

1
USAFA's Defunct Ski Tow 2:01

20 weeks ago2:01

2:01

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-west ridge and began clearing some ski runs to the north. The documents outlined a grand plan for this neighborhood project. In late 1962, however, the effort was abandoned. Reasons included a lack of snow, difficulty clearing paths for runs, and problems with the rope system. Despite its failure, skiing has always been a part of the Academy. In 1964, Academy personnel organized a ski club to develop, maintain and support skiing and other winter sports. USAFA had a varsity ski team from 1958 to 1972, which trained at the now-closed Broadmoor Ski Area. While the Academy no longer has a varsity ski team, it does have competitive cadet clubs devoted to downhill, cross-country, and freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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USAFA'S Cadet Sabres: Now Made in the USA 11:56

21 weeks ago11:56

11:56

The 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 inception without a single miss. And there's still more. Steve serves the Association of Graduates and Foundation as writer and historian. As a recognized authority on all things Sabre Society, Steve wrote a feature piece for the December 2024 edition of Checkpoints Magazine on the Sabre Society's 30 anniversary year and a major change in the manufacture of USAFA's cadet sabres. That article is linked below as a free downloadable PDF file. In addition to his Checkpoints piece, he has also hosted two Heritage Minute Special podcasts, collaborated with the AOG's Ryan Hall to produce a companion video (embedded below), and much more. READ MORE BY STEVE SIMON IN THE DECEMBER 2024 CHECKPOINTS *FREE PDF DOWNLOAD* MORE ON THE SABRE SOCIETY HERE - Video written and produced for Checkpoints Magazine by Ryan Hall and Steve Simon The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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Falcon Stadium's Rich Heritage Explained 2:17

22 weeks ago2:17

2:17

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 names of some of their most historic events. Phase I of the Air Force Academy’s signage project is in place, highlighting five major air campaigns: Berlin Airlift, the 1948–1949 operation to supply Berlin with food and other supplies after the Soviet Union blockaded the city, closing all road and rail links; Allied Force, the 1999 air campaign in Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War; Inherent Resolve, the 2014 campaign to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria; Desert Storm, the 1991 operation to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation; and Linebacker II, the December 1972 bombing campaign to force North Vietnam leadership to agree to a peace treaty. Phase II of the Falcon Stadium heritage project could add an additional 20 campaigns. In addition to that signage, depictions of the forty cadet squadrons’ patches were added to the tunnel used by the teams. The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of Ryan Hall and the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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The Town of Husted - Anchoring USAFA's Past 2:34

23 weeks ago2:34

2:34

Before 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. Residents included railroad workers, ranchers and entrepreneurs. One descendent of these pioneers, David McAloy, graduated from the Academy in 2003. Sadly, Husted was the site of a horrible tragedy. On 14 August 1909, two passenger trains collided head-on. Twelve people were killed and another 42 were injured. Incidentally, one of those killed was train crewmember James A. Gossage, grandfather of future Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Rick “Goose” Gossage. As long as trains were the primary mode of transportation, Husted thrived. In the 1920s, however, progress overtook the town. The automobile began to supplant the railroad, and a new highway, U.S. 85-87 – now Interstate-25 – was built. With that, the town began to fade away. In fact, by the time the Academy was being planned in 1954, it was virtually a ghost town. The only remaining Husted building is the Reynolds House, built in 1894, near what is now the Western Museum of Mining and Industry. The land in and around Husted did make one more contribution, however, serving as the location of the concrete plant that supported the construction of the Cadet Area. 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…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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An Ancient Diary In Stone: USAFA's Cathedral Rock 2:16

24 weeks ago2:16

2:16

Best known for the “Run to the Rock,” a key rite-of-passage milestone in Doolie-year training, Cathedral Rock, has an interesting history. ----more---- 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 is Douglass Valley. He signed the rock numerous times. Mr. Jerome C. Kinner signed the rock in 1921. He had a general store and gas station in the now-ghost town of Husted near what today is the North Gate. Albert and Jeannine Bishop lived near Cathedral Rock in the late 1800s. They not only carved their names, but added a little heart and their three children’s names: Oscar, Lillian and Phineas. Jack Anthony, Class of ‘78, and archeologist Dr. Bill Arbogast of the University of Colorado are among the researchers who have studied the many pioneer signatures on the rock, a section of which Jack calls “Signature Wall.” Unfortunately, like the nearby flatiron, Cathedral Rock is off limits to visitors. It is near the firing range, and the layers of sandstone are easily damaged, making it an environmentally and culturally sensitive area. Despite that, Cathedral Rock remains a cherished Academy landmark. 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…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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The Sabre Society Celebrating 30 Years Hard at Work 15:25

24 weeks ago15:25

15:25

The 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 Association and Foundation…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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The F-100 Super Sabre 2:26

25 weeks ago2:26

2:26

One 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 Robinson Risner flew this plane, appropriately named the Spirit of St. Louis II, on the same New York-to-Paris route . . . but a little faster. Risner’s flight took 6 hours and 37 minutes, one-fifth of Lindbergh’s time, and set a new trans-Atlantic record. The plane has been on display here since 1983. Incidentally, Major Risner went on to become Brigadier General Risner, best known for his leadership and heroism while a prisoner of war in Vietnam for seven years. He is the exemplar for the Class of 2021. A Risner statue, funded by Ross Perot, stands nine feet tall in the Air Garden on the Terrazzo. 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…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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Blodgett Peak's 1943 C-49-J Crash Site 2:10

26 weeks ago2:10

2:10

The 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 pioneers Aaron and Martha Blodgett, who established a homestead in the Pine Valley area in the 1860s. Other pioneers said the Blodgetts were kind and helpful, sort of the Pine Valley welcome wagon. Maybe that’s why the mountain is named after them. Blodgett Peak reentered Academy consciousness in 2012 when the Waldo Canyon fire spread to Blodgett and forced the Academy to move in-processing from Doolittle Hall, where it had been every year since 1995, to the Field House. On 23 February 1943, a U.S. Army Air Force C-49J crashed here, on the north face of Blodgett Peak. Perhaps due to the steepness of the terrain and the remoteness of the wreckage, it was not moved. Lieutenant Baxter Ireland and two crew members died in the crash, which occurred during a training mission from Denver to Pueblo when Lieutenant Ireland became disoriented in inclement weather. The War Department’s explanation of the accident was succinct, listing the cause as, “Collision – Other Object.” 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…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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KAFA 97.7 FM: USAFA'S Radio Station 2:38

27 weeks ago2:38

2:38

Lots 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 6:57 p.m. on 17 January 1971, the station began broadcasting with 10 watts of power at the frequency 89.7 on the FM dial. Following the National Anthem, the first song played was “Suite Judy Blue Eyes” by Crosby Stills and Nash. The Superintendent, Lieutenant General A. P. Clark, then delivered a welcome message. KAFA has undergone changes over the decades, but is still largely as its founders dreamed and designed it. After going off the air for a time in the 1980s, it has broadcast continuously since 13 February 1989. The format has varied slightly, but has largely stuck to its rock roots. The frequency has changed three times due to signal-bleed into commercial stations’ coverage, and is currently broadcasting at 97.7. Since 1 May 2008, KAFA has been available online, making it accessible to graduates, parents, and other interested listeners anywhere in the world. Funding for the streaming has been provided by the Association of Graduates since day one. KAFA has served the Academy community by broadcasting live from significant events such as graduation, in-processing, and even sporting events. In 2018, after nearly a half-century in Vandenberg Hall, the station moved to this state-of-the-art studio in Fairchild Hall. 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…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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The Biggest Permanent Mural in the World 1:56

28 weeks ago1:56

1:56

The 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 some of the primary milestone events that take place for each class. Appropriately enough, it begins with Basic Cadet Training and concludes with Graduation, complete with hats in the air and Thunderbirds flying overhead. The Honor Code and Core Values are also displayed on the top and bottom of the painting, respectively. The Class of 1976 commissioned the $50,000 mural, which was painted by Michael Esch. The design process took more than a year, evolving into a composition that includes military, academic, athletic, and character-development aspects of the Academy curriculum. With that complete, work on the mural commenced on 21 July 1997 and was completed in October 1997. 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…

HERITAGE MINUTE

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A Legacy of Leadership and Scholarship - Gen. (Ret.) Steve Lorenz ’73 26:15

28 weeks ago26:15