HERITAGE MINUTE

The Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium has played host to countless significant events since its opening in 1962.  The first event was, appropriately, a football game.  ----more----

Cadet and later four-star general John Lorber, Class of ’64, scored the first touchdown in the 34-0 win over in-state rival Colorado State.  Navy first played here in 1966, while Army made its initial visit a year later, in 1967.  Other gridiron highlights include 1985’s fourth consecutive victory over Notre Dame, a game that turned on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown, and the 1997 win over San Diego State that marked the first overtime game in NCAA history to end on a defensive score.  The stadium has hosted every Air Force Academy graduation since 1963, when President John F. Kennedy spoke and presented diplomas.  That was the first of eleven Presidential visits for graduation so far.  The stadium has also hosted many other events in its illustrious history.  Entertainer Bob Hope filmed a television special in the stadium in 1980 that featured Diana Ross of the Supremes.  More recently, the stadium played host to concerts featuring the likes of Tim McGraw, the rock band Train, and Blake Shelton.  Jon Stewart emceed and Kelly Clarkson sang at the Opening Ceremonies of the Warrior Games here in 2018.  In February 2020, Falcon Stadium will play host to the National Hockey League game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings.

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

In this Heritage Minute Special, Col. (Ret.) John Abbatiello, PhD., author and historian, talks with host, Steve Simon ’77 about his work deep researching and studying the life and times of WWII pilot, Jim Doolittle.   ----more----

Most commonly known for leading his “Raiders” into battle during WWII, Gen. Jimmy Doolittle’s life and work extended far beyond his time as a pilot. Heritage Minute Special guest, Col. (Ret.) John Abbatiello, Ph.D., shares a few little known facts about the famous pilot. Enjoy Episode 5 of the Heritage Minute Special!

Falcon Stadium, home of the Air Force Fighting Falcons, has a rich history.  Plans for the facility date back to 1955, the year the first cadets reported to the Academy’s temporary home at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver.  ----more----

Rather than build the stadium near the Cadet Area, designers chose a natural bowl approximately two miles southeast of the campus.  The Air Force Academy Foundation provided the funding for the $3.5 million facility.  Groundbreaking took place in October 1960, and less than two years later, the stadium was ready for action.  On September 22nd, 1962, the first football game was played, a 34-0 victory over Colorado State in front of more than 41,000 fans.  A month later, actor and Air Force Reserve Brigadier General Jimmy Stewart emceed the official dedication, an event that also saw the Air Force Thunderbirds make their first Falcon Stadium appearance.  The first graduation in the stadium took place in 1963, with President John F. Kennedy the guest speaker.  Every Air Force Academy graduation since has been held here.  The first night game in Falcon Stadium was played in 1989, using rented lights.  The stadium was fitted with permanent lights three years later.  Four years after that, in 2006, artificial turf was installed.  The press box and the scoreboards have received multiple expansions and upgrades.  At 6,621 feet above sea level, Falcon Stadium is the second highest facility in major college football, with only our northern neighbor, fellow Mountain West Conference-member Wyoming having a stadium at a higher altitude.  In addition to football and graduation, Falcon Stadium has played host to concerts and special events, and is home to Falcon lacrosse.

The Cadet Chapel and surrounding areas provide worship spaces to accommodate virtually every cadet interest.  ----more----

The Buddhist Chapel, known as the Vast Refuge Dharma Hall, was dedicated on 29 October 2007.  It is located in the downstairs area, just to the north of the Jewish Chapel.  The chapel was the gift of the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism and The Friends of Zen.  An Air Force Academy graduate from its first class, the Class of 1959, was instrumental in its creation:  Friends of Zen founder and Vice Abbot, Reverend Dai En Hi Fu (DIE EN HE FU) George Wiley Burch.  He organized the fundraising effort through the Association of Graduates.  Ed Shure designed and built the chapel.  It measures 300 square feet and is freestanding within the existing structure.  It is constructed of Port Orford Cedar, a rare, fragrant wood used for temple building in Japan.  Takayuki Kida, a traditionally trained Japanese woodworker, designed and built the altar and alcove, which are made from American cherry and ash.  The Buddha figure is from Burma and the large lion-topped cencer is from China.

The Academy Cadet Chapel also contains a Muslim Prayer Room, as well as an All-Faiths room which provides a worship area for smaller religious groups.  A Prayer Circle is located on the hill west of the Chapel, primarily for use by earth-centered faith groups. Finally, the Chapel staff has dedicated space in both cadet dormitories, and access to rooms in Fairchild Hall, the academic building, for use as needed.

The Jewish Chapel shares the downstairs area of the Cadet Chapel with the Catholic and Buddhist worship spaces.  ----more----

The architecture is a circle within a square, symbolizing a tent, and paying tribute to the global mission of the Air Force and the everlasting presence of God.  Mr. Ludwig Wolpert of the New York Jewish Museum designed the chapel interior.  The Chapel seats 100.  Its walls are made of panels of translucent glass separated by stanchions of Israeli cypress.  Normally, paintings of human images are not found in Jewish synagogues, but the Academy is different, as it features the nine-painting set created by Shlomo Katz.  The works of art, painted in 1985 and 1986, depict biblical stories of brotherhood, flight, and justice.  Mr. Katz painted the scenes on wooden panels that he had pre-curved to precisely fit on the curved walls of the chapel.  The floor of the foyer is made of 1,631 pieces of Jerusalem brown stone donated by the Israeli Defense Forces in 1960.  The foyer walls are made of purple stained-glass panels alternating with green and blue stained glass accent windows.  The foyer also houses a Torah Scroll that is more than 200 years old.  It was among 38 scrolls discovered in an abandoned factory in Poland, part of a collection of religious artifacts that the Nazis had accumulated to put in a museum to show the world remnants of an “extinct people.”  Donated to the Jewish Chapel in April 1990, the “Holocaust Torah” is dedicated to the memory of all those murdered by the Nazis, and those who fought against the Nazis.

Occupying the bulk of the Cadet Chapel’s lower level is the Catholic Chapel.  Called Our Lady of the Skies, the space was designed to give the impression of being a grotto.  ----more----

The walls are made of panels of amber glass, giving the effect of dust and dirt.  The glass is set between aluminum strips that amplify the sound of the wind.  The Chapel seats 500, with room for another 100 in the choir loft.  The screen behind the altar measures 18 by 45 feet.  It portrays the coming together of all elements of the universe.  It contains two ten-foot-tall Italian Carrera marble figures, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel.  The marble was drawn from the same quarries used by Michelangelo.  The altar, which is also made of Italian marble, is covered by a baldachin (bald-a-kin) like those that would be used to provide protection from dripping water in a grotto.  The six-foot-tall crucifix on display is made of nickel-silver.  The mold used to make it was broken after casting.  The Catholic Chapel has 14 Stations of the Cross carved from four-inch marble slabs – also Italian marble.  The backgrounds are made of multi-colored tiles, and each contains a small cross made of olive wood from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.  The organ, designed by Walter Holtkamp, is comprised of 1,950 pipes made of wood, various alloys of tin and lead, and polished copper.  The vestibule features four stone pieces representing Saints Matthew, John, Mark, and Luke.  They were carved by Scott Davis using marble from . . . Colorado!

The Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel stands alone as the only chapel at a service academy that accommodates all faith groups under one roof.  ----more----

Upstairs, under the pinnacled ceiling that soars 99 feet overhead, you will find the Protestant Chapel.  The stunning sanctuary featured walls – actually it is all ceiling – made of tetrahedron-shaped spires and more than 24,000 blocks of stained glass.  There are 24 different shades of glass, with more than half of those being tones of blue.  The colors graduate from dark in the back of the room to light at the front, to symbolize coming from the darkness into the light of God.  Other than the ceiling, the most impressive feature is the organ.  It has more than 4,300 pipes, which, coincidentally, is the approximate number of cadets who attend the Academy.  The smallest pipe is the size of a pencil, while the largest is wide enough to hold a soccer ball.  The Chapel has 76 walnut and mahogany pews that seat twelve-hundred people.  The end of each pew is designed to resemble a World War I airplane propeller and the backs of the pews the leading edge of a high performance jet wing.  The front of the church features a curved multi-colored screen with semi-precious stones from Colorado and pietra santa marble from Italy.  Mounted above is the cast aluminum Soaring Spirit Cross that measures more than 46 feet tall and 12 feet wide.  As I mentioned, the Chapel can accommodate worshippers of all faiths.  The floor contains 27 inches of sound-proofing to allow a Protestant service here and a Catholic service below to be held simultaneously.

Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Bob Vasquez has a deep history serving the Long Blue Line, including at the Air Force Academy. ----more----

In this edition of the Heritage Minute Special with host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ‘77, the two longtime friends and colleagues sit down to talk about leadership, Vasquez’s military career and his recent recognition as an honorary member of the Association of Graduates.

PHOTO ALBUM:  Honorary AOG Member Award Ceremony

CHIEF IN THE NEWS:  Role Model for Cadets

Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Bob Vásquez, third from left, is congratulated by Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Hans Mueh '66, from left, Lt. Col. Carl Chen '06 and Mark Hille '97

CHIEF'S MENTORSHIP BUILT LEADERS

REPRINTED FROM CHECKPOINTS MAGAZINE, JUNE 2024

Shouting “HEIRPOWER!” while high-fiving cadets between classes in Fairchild Hall and taking time to listen were some of the ways Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Bob Vásquez positively impacted a generation of future military officers. His 19-plus years of dedication and service at the Air Force Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development were recognized during a March 19 ceremony where the Association of Graduates inducted him as an honorary member.

“Chief Vásquez has certainly met and exceeded the requirements for being named an honorary member,” Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation CEO Mark Hille ’97 commented during the ceremony.

Vásquez mentored and instructed thousands of four-degree cadets in the basic character development course, VECTOR (Vital, Effective, Character Through Observation and Reflection). He also helped craft similar courses for the entire Cadet Wing.

As course director, he grew and developed the curriculum and expanded its offering from a few evening hours after classes to an eight-hour session each semester.

Admittedly, Vásquez says that wasn’t enough time to develop character but it provided an opportunity to plant seeds in future Air Force and Space Force leaders.

Cadets often told the chief that the course allowed them to think about and reflect on their purpose for attending USAFA and the Academy’s mission of developing leaders of character.

“The four degrees loved being there,” Vásquez says. “Feeding them helped.” He joked that enlisted personnel at the Academy liked that the future officers had to get through him and VECTOR to graduate, which was true.

HAVING AN IMPACT

Vásquez’s impact didn’t stop with the character development course. He was intentional in when and where he interacted with cadets every day.

Most school days at 9 a.m., the chief would walk around McDermott Library talking with four-degrees.

“I’d say, ‘Good morning, how are you?’ The important part is I would listen for the answer,” Vásquez says. “When I heard, ‘Outstanding, sir.,’ I’d say, ‘How are you really?’ That’s when they would open up.”

“If I had any significant impact, it was from one-on-one conversations.” The chief tried to make sure each cadet he worked with felt heard.

“We say that leaders lead people,” Vásquez says. “Really effective leaders lead persons, individuals. How are YOU doing? Not y’all.”

His impact didn’t end at the library.

Vásquez has fond memories of walking the long hallway on Fairchild Hall’s east side, watching cadets quickly and quietly heading to their next classes. That’s when his, “Hello, how are you?” and high-fives would break the silence and lighten the mood.

Over the years, the chief often asked first-degree cadets what they would miss most about the Academy.

The initial answer was often, “You, sir,” with the second being their fellow cadets.

“They embraced the suck together for four years,” Vásquez says. “They are now part of a Long Blue Line family.”

INDUCTION CEREMONY

Now an honorary member of the Association of Graduates, Vásquez jokingly says he’s part of the Class of 2024.

Family, friends and colleagues joined him for the ceremony at Doolittle Hall.

Vásquez left a lasting impact on Lt. Col. Carl Chen ’06, who currently serves as operations branch chief for NORAD and USNORTHCOM at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs.

“His most important lessons ingrained in us the understanding that those we lead are real human beings who should be treated with compassion, dignity and respect,” Col. Chen commented during the gathering. “The chief once told me that when it was time for him to advance to the rank of chief master sergeant, he was asked if he was truly all in. What I can tell you is that he was all in then, he was all in during his more than two decades of service for our Academy and he’s still all in today. There’s no one more deserving of this honor than you. Congratulations.”

Col. Chen nominated Vásquez for the honorary membership and Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Hans Mueh ’66, a member of the AOG board of directors, says the board voted unanimously to induct Vásquez as an honorary member.

“I asked if any of the board members knew the chief,” Gen. Mueh, a USAFA Distinguished Graduate, said during the ceremony. “After the laughter died down, better than half the board explained that I wasn’t the only one familiar with the chief’s impact on graduates.”

Gen. Mueh has known Vásquez for more than 20 years and says Vásquez helped improve the Academy’s honor and ethics education for all cadets.

“He led that effort and can rightly take credit for the authorship of most of the honor lessons we still use today,” Gen. Mueh says. “To me, he’s been a friend and mentor, and I’m in awe of the consistent message of integrity he has lived and shared.”

CHIEF VÁSQUEZ

After posing for photos as the latest Association of Graduates honorary member, the chief started his speech this way:

“I’m Chief Master Sgt. retired Bob Vásquez."

“I produce shining stars for the United States of America. Now, let me tell you something about this place we call America. There’s no place like this place, anywhere near this place, so this must be the place. Isn’t this a great day to be an American?!”

Cheering and applause followed.

“My heart is about to explode with pride,” he said while looking out at his wife of more than 46 wonderful and fulfilling years, Debbie, his two daughters and two of his six grandchildren seated in the front row.

“He was very passionate about his time with the cadets,” Debbie Vásquez says. “It was hard for him to retire after 30 enlisted years and 20 years at the Academy, but he’s ready to do his own thing, like more writing and traveling.”

Tesa Vatcher, who lives in Colorado Springs, says she can’t go anywhere in town where someone doesn’t know her famous father.

“She’s heard responses like, “Oh my goodness, we love him,” and “He shouts HEIRPOWER! in the hallways.”

At first, many cadets would assume the chief was shouting “air power,” referencing the U.S. Air Force’s dominance in the skies, but that isn’t the case.

Vásquez says his main purpose in life is spreading the idea of “heirpower.”

His book, “Wisdom Acquired Randomly (W.A.R.): What I learned at the United States Air Force Academy without ever graduating!” shares lessons of cadets/heirs being shaped into the leaders of tomorrow.

“An heir is a successor. Power is a capacity to act effectively,” he explains.

Vásquez thanked Col. Chen for the nomination, Gen. Mueh for his support, the Association of Graduates for welcoming him with open arms, and his family for all their backing over the years.

“It was an incredible feeling when I heard the nomination was accepted,” Vásquez says. “Chiefs don’t cry, but sometimes our eyeballs sweat.” 

The Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel soars 150 feet into the thin Colorado air.  Its 17 spires evoke the mountains that form its backdrop, jets flying in formation, and raised sabres.  ----more----

After winning a spirited national competition to earn the right to design the Air Force Academy, the Chicago-based firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill put 34-year-old architect Walter Netsch in charge of the Chapel’s design.  The strikingly modern Cadet Chapel became his most famous creation.  It has received several architectural awards and appeared in countless magazines that extolled its beauty.  Today, its beauty is unquestioned, but the design originally raised many questions and caused a lot of controversy.  Influential people in the late 1950s, including members of Congress, did not like it.  Critics of that time called the Chapel design “a shocking fiasco,” “an accordion,” and said that attending services there would be like worshipping in “a skating rink.”  While Congress briefly delayed funding, Netsch and company prevailed.  The Chapel was built by the Robert E. McKee Construction Company of Santa Fe, New Mexico, between 1959 and 1963.  The cost to build the Chapel was $3.5 million for the structure, while the furnishings, organs and other interior items were funded through private donation.  On Easter 1959, an offering was taken on Air Force bases throughout the world to help finance the completion of the interior.  The Chapel was dedicated on September 22, 1963.  Since then, the aluminum, glass and steel structure has become the top man-made tourist attraction in the state of Colorado.

Beginning in 2019 and continuing for several years, the Academy’s most visible building will be closed for renovations and upgrades.  Construction will take it back to the steel skeleton, a look well-known from early 1960s photographs.  Once completed, the renovations will seal the Chapel structure, which has leaked since its inception.

The Association of Graduates’ Heritage Trail includes the POW Memorial Sculpture.  Located at the entrance of the Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion, it contains the names of the 33 Academy graduates who were prisoners of war in Vietnam.  ----more----

It also lists the dates of their captivity and, if applicable, release.  Unfortunately, two graduates died in captivity:  Captains Lance Sijan, Class of ’65, and Michael Bosiljevac, Class of ’67.  Nineteen of those POWs, as well as family members of the deceased, attended the sculpture’s dedication ceremony on April 24th, 2015.  General Ron Yates, Class of ’60, initiated and oversaw the project.  In addition to his class, the Classes of ’63, ’64, ’65, and ’67 provided funding.  The 2000-pound bronze plaque, called “Honor Bound:  A Portrait of Courage,” was sculpted by Jim Nance, Class of ’71, who flew one of the C-141 missions that brought POWs out of Southeast Asia in 1973.  Incidentally, his father spent three years as a POW in World War II.  Then-Cadet Joseph Flescher, Class of ’14, served as the model for the determined and defiant POW depicted.  The metal used in the sculpture includes more than 100 donated copper POW bracelets that were melted into the bronze.

IMAGE GALLERY