The Heritage Trail - Celebrating Graduate Accomplishments

HERITAGE MINUTE

One of the three missions of the Association of Graduates is to promote the heritage of the Academy and the accomplishments of its graduates. One very visible representation of this undertaking is the Heritage Trail, located adjacent to Doolittle Hall, the AOG’s headquarters building. ----more----

It is part memorial, part inspirational park, part museum, and part educational facility. The Heritage Trail concept dates back to 2002. The Class of ’60 led the way, while the Classes of ’69 and ’73 provided additional funding for the first phase. Since then, new features have been added by other classes. At the head of the trail is a quote attributed to George Washington: “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” The trail also features the Class of ’59 Challenge Bridge, pedestals recognizing Distinguished Graduate Award recipients, and the Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion. These sites will be profiled in future editions of the Heritage Minute. The Trail also features: A Class of ’70-funded replica of the Graduate War Memorial located in the Cadet Area, which honors graduates who have died in combat; and a node donated by the Class of ‘89 dedicated to Valor and honoring a classmate, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Shea, who was killed in Iraq in 2004. The Heritage Trail provides inspiration to cadets, who visit early in their Academy tenures, as well as to graduates and others who tour the facility.

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