HERITAGE MINUTE

heritageminute
HERITAGE MINUTE

Whether a statue honoring a war hero, a display of historic aircraft, important memorabilia, a person, place or event, these memorials, artifacts and people help tell the story of the Air Force Academy through the decades.

  1. A Gallery of Great Airmen

    5 DAYS AGO · VIDEO

    A 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 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

    3 min

  2. FEB 9

    A 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. These kindred spirits have been drawn together by their mutual interest in history and heritage. Listen now!

    27 min
  3. The Bell of Neuville Tolls a Story

    FEB 2 · VIDEO

    The 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.  ----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

    2 min
  4. The MOST Decorated Hockey Player in Academy History

    JAN 26

    The MOST Decorated Hockey Player in Academy History

    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.

    26 min
  5. USAFA's First Home: Lowry AFB

    JAN 19 · VIDEO

    USAFA's First Home: Lowry AFB

    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.

    4 min
  6. From Cadet to Senator and President

    JAN 12

    From 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.

    28 min
  7. A Heritage Minute Special Special!

    JAN 5

    A Heritage Minute Special Special!

    It doesn’t happen very often that we decide to publish a Special about our Specials, but here it is! Heritage Minute Special host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve. Simon ’77 and Long Blue Line Podcast Network producer and podcast specialist, Ted Robertson, have had an a mics-on chat about our new schedule and more great Heritage Minute content coming your way in 2025!

    37 min
  8. USAFA's Defunct Ski Tow

    12/29/2024 · VIDEO

    USAFA'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.

    2 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Whether a statue honoring a war hero, a display of historic aircraft, important memorabilia, a person, place or event, these memorials, artifacts and people help tell the story of the Air Force Academy through the decades.

Information

  • Creator
    heritageminute
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024-2025 | U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation | All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    HERITAGE MINUTE

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