HERITAGE MINUTE

Best 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

Gen. (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

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FALCON FOUNDATION

RECOMMENDED READING:  LORENZ ON LEADERSHIP

Nothing speaks better to the subject of effective leadership than the need to develop professionally. General Lorenz believes that leadership is tied to a continuing study of the profession, thus the need for leaders to read. He particularly advocates reading biographies of great leaders. He found that learning from other’s experiences helped keep him from wasting time reinventing the wheel. And reading, like any other leadership development, is a lifetime experience because, as he describes it, “Life is a marathon, not a 50-yard dash.”

 - Copy credit:  Amazon.com

READ "LORENZ ON LEADERSHIP" HERE

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

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

One 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 the first period of that game, before the safety nets were put up, a puck went over the boards, through the “shatter-proof” glass and onto the running track in the multi-purpose area.  The first intercollegiate game was an 8-1 loss to Notre Dame in December 1968, while the first intercollegiate victory came against Ohio State the following month, by the score of 6-4. Since then, the hockey team has enjoyed remarkable success, with seven trips to the NCAA tournament.  Air Force was the first-ever service Academy team to earn an NCAA bid.  Decorating the south end of the arena are murals honoring six of the Academy’s best-ever hockey players.  One honoree is my ’77 classmate, Chuck Delich, who still holds the NCAA record for most goals in a career, with 156.

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

Covering 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 addition to sporting events, Clune Arena has played host to concerts, cadet award ceremonies, high school graduation ceremonies, and major speeches.  At least two former United States Presidents have spoken in Clune Arena, Gerald Ford in 1979, and Jimmy Carter in 1985.  The venue was named Clune Arena during a dedication ceremony on December sixth, 1993.  Colonel John Clune, Navy Class of ’54, served as the Air Force Academy’s Director of Athletics from November 1975 until July 1991.  During his tenure, the Academy began a comprehensive 10-sport women’s program and joined the Western Athletic Conference.

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

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 utilized for track & field events and training.  The Field House did not come online until nearly a decade after the first USAFA cadets graduated.  On April twenty-second, 1968, with construction complete, the final acceptance and transfer of the Field House occurred.  Five days later, Academy-assigned personnel and their dependents participated in a special “Preview Showing” of the Field House.  The Academy basketball and hockey teams first began competing in the Field House in the fall of 1968.  Among the countless track-and-field stars to excel in the building are Olympic marathon gold medalist Frank Shorter and our own Olympic gold medalist, Alonzo Babers, Class of ’83.  The five-decade-old structure is currently undergoing a massive multi-year renovation.

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