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
Episodes
19 hours ago
19 hours ago
It all started in the spring of 1962 when a band of bootleg jumpers made their first parachute jumps as cadets.
19 hours ago
Remembering the T-38 Talon
19 hours ago
19 hours ago
Just to the west of the Academy airfield is the Thunderbird Overlook. It contains two interesting static display aircraft: the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt and the Northrop T-38 Talon.
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Behemoth B-52: 1 - MIG: 0
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Can you believe this behemoth shot down a MiG? Well, it did!
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
A-10 Warthog - The Chopper Popper
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
The Thunderbird Overlook near the south end of the Academy is home to two static display aircraft: the Northrop T-38 Talon and the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt (aka the Warthog).
Sunday Sep 15, 2024
On Silver Wings - The Tuskegee Airmen
Sunday Sep 15, 2024
Sunday Sep 15, 2024
A bronze statue in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen is on display outside Harmon Hall on the Academy’s Honor Court. The plaque affixed to the statue’s base reads: Quote: “They rose from adversity through competence, courage, commitment and capacity to serve America on silver wings and to set a standard few will transcend.” Unquote. The statue, completed by Tuskegee Airman and artist Clarence Shivers, was unveiled and donated to the Academy in 1988 by the Hook-Jones Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. A wreath-laying ceremony is conducted at the site each year.
The term “Tuskegee Airmen” refers to all who were involved in the Army Air Corps program to train African-Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft during World War II. At a time of racial segregation in the military, the Tuskegee Airmen answered the call to arms and flew a total of 1,578 combat missions during the war. They flew fighters on ground attack and bomber escort missions over Europe and North Africa. Approximately 150 Tuskegee Airmen lost their lives while in training or on combat flights. On March 29, 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award that may be bestowed by the United States Congress.
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
Sunday Sep 08, 2024
The Harmon Memorial
Sunday Sep 08, 2024
Sunday Sep 08, 2024
Just to the west of the Cadet Chapel, concealed by a stand of pine trees, is a bronze statue honoring Lieutenant General Hubert Harmon, the first superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy.
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
The Capt. Lance P. Sijan Memorial Statue
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
The United States Air Force Academy has one graduate Medal of Honor recipient. His name is Lance Peter Sijan, Class of 1965.
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
"Honor Bound" A Portrait in Courage - A Heritage Minute Special
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
Heritage Minute host, Steve Simon recently welcomed Jim Nance, USAFA Class of ’71, and Major Joe Flescher, Class of ’14 to the studio. Jim is a renowned sculptor and created the 2,000 lb. "Honor Bound - A Portrait in Courage" plaque now mounted on the east exterior wall of USAFA's Southeast Asia Pavilion. Maj. Flescher served as his model.
Sunday Aug 25, 2024
The Belk Falcon Statue
Sunday Aug 25, 2024
Sunday Aug 25, 2024
Just outside of Falcon Stadium, on the east side, soars the largest falcon statue in the United States.
Sunday Aug 18, 2024
The Commander in Chief's Trophy
Sunday Aug 18, 2024
Sunday Aug 18, 2024
In the “old” days, (the fifties, sixties and early seventies), Army and Navy were afraid to play the Falcons in Colorado – something about the altitude.
Sunday Aug 11, 2024
Game Day 1962 - Falcon Stadium Events
Sunday Aug 11, 2024
Sunday Aug 11, 2024
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.
Sunday Aug 04, 2024
Things you Might not Know About Jimmy Doolittle - A Heritage Minute Special
Sunday Aug 04, 2024
Sunday Aug 04, 2024
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.
Sunday Aug 04, 2024
Falcon Stadium - Home of the Fighting Falcons
Sunday Aug 04, 2024
Sunday Aug 04, 2024
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.
Sunday Jul 28, 2024
USAFA's Spaces for Buddhists and Other Faiths
Sunday Jul 28, 2024
Sunday Jul 28, 2024
The Cadet Chapel and surrounding areas provide worship spaces to accommodate virtually every cadet interest.
Sunday Jul 21, 2024
USAFA's Jewish Chapel
Sunday Jul 21, 2024
Sunday Jul 21, 2024
The Jewish Chapel shares the downstairs area of the Cadet Chapel with the Catholic and Buddhist worship spaces.
Sunday Jul 14, 2024
USAFA's Catholic Chapel
Sunday Jul 14, 2024
Sunday Jul 14, 2024
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.
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
USAFA's Protestant Chapel
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
The Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel stands alone as the only chapel at a service academy that accommodates all faith groups under one roof.
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
Chief Master SGT. (Ret.) Bob Vasquez - A Heritage Minute Special
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Bob Vasquez has a deep history serving the Long Blue Line, including at the Air Force Academy.
Sunday Jun 30, 2024
USAFA's Iconic Cadet Chapel
Sunday Jun 30, 2024
Sunday Jun 30, 2024
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.
Sunday Jun 23, 2024
The POW Memorial - Remembering USAFA's Prisoners of War
Sunday Jun 23, 2024
Sunday Jun 23, 2024
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.
Sunday Jun 16, 2024
The Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion - A Most Commanding Edifice
Sunday Jun 16, 2024
Sunday Jun 16, 2024
The largest and most commanding structure on the Heritage Trail is the Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion. A gift of the Class of ‘70, it was dedicated on October first, 2010, during the class’s 40-year reunion.
Sunday Jun 09, 2024
The Pegasus Statue - The Story Behind this Special Gift
Sunday Jun 09, 2024
Sunday Jun 09, 2024
In the traffic circle outside Doolittle Hall, the Air Force Academy alumni headquarters, is a remarkable sculpture of Pegasus.
Sunday Jun 02, 2024
45 Years Serving the Long Blue Line - A Heritage Minute Special
Sunday Jun 02, 2024
Sunday Jun 02, 2024
In the waning days of his 45-year career serving and supporting the Long Blue Line, Maj. (Ret.) Tom Kroboth was inducted as an honorary member of the Association of Graduates during a Dec. 5, 2023 ceremony.
Sunday Jun 02, 2024
Distinguished Graduate Pedestals - Commemorating USAFA Grads of Distinction
Sunday Jun 02, 2024
Sunday Jun 02, 2024
An important part of the Association of Graduates’ commitment to heritage is recognizing and honoring the Academy’s most outstanding graduates.
Sunday May 26, 2024
The Challenge Bridge - "To Each Incoming Cadet..."
Sunday May 26, 2024
Sunday May 26, 2024
A key feature of the Heritage Trail at Doolittle Hall is the Challenge Bridge. The bridge was commissioned by the Academy’s first graduating class, the Class of ’59, and their surrogate upperclassmen, the Air Training Officers.
Sunday May 19, 2024
The Heritage Trail - Celebrating Graduate Accomplishments
Sunday May 19, 2024
Sunday May 19, 2024
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.
Sunday May 12, 2024
How Doolittle Hall Got its Name - Heritage Minute
Sunday May 12, 2024
Sunday May 12, 2024
Season 2 of Heritage Minute with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 is under way! In this episode, a walk-through of the Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation headquarters named for Gen. James "Jimmy" Doolittle.
Sunday May 05, 2024
Eyewitness to Operation Homecoming - A Story Untold for 50 Years
Sunday May 05, 2024
Sunday May 05, 2024
Penny Grossman served 21 years of active duty as an Air Force nurse. In 1973, She was stationed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines during Operation Homecoming, when nearly 600 American Prisoners of War were freed. The first leg of their journey home took them from Hanoi to Clark Air Base, where Penny witnessed their first steps of freedom.She has not spoken of these difficult memories in 50 years.
Sunday May 05, 2024
Honoring the Greatest of the Greats - Heritage Minute
Sunday May 05, 2024
Sunday May 05, 2024
The primary goal of the United States Air Force Academy is to educate, train, and inspire men and women to become leaders of character for the nation.
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
We ARE Meant to Fly! - Heritage Minute
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
Dive into the story behind the Col. Richard Gimbel Aeronautical Library, located at the top floor of USAFA's McDermott Library!
Sunday Apr 21, 2024
First in Flight! - The Wright Brothers Display - Heritage Minute
Sunday Apr 21, 2024
Sunday Apr 21, 2024
One of the most interesting areas in the McDermott Library is the stunning circular staircase pinnacled by a replica of the Wright Brothers' airplane.
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
A Collection that Inspired The Great Escape - Heritage Minute
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
Displayed along the spiral staircase of USAFA’s McDermott Library is an impressive collection of rifles used by U.S. troops throughout the ages.
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
The USAFA Graduate War Memorial - Heritage Minute
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Situated at the north end of the Air Garden on the Academy Cadet area’s Terrazzo, just under the flagpole proudly displaying the American flag, is the Academy’s Graduate War Memorial.
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Mystery, History and Stories - A Heritage Minute Special
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Have you met the “USAFA Before USAFA History Guy?”
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
USAFA's 70th Birthday - Heritage Minute In the News
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
WATCH! HERITAGE MINUTE IN THE NEWS
It’s the Air Force Academy’s 70th year bringing up great leaders who go on to serve the nation in uniform!
Sunday Mar 31, 2024
F-15A & F-16A — Heritage Minute
Sunday Mar 31, 2024
Sunday Mar 31, 2024
A pair of fighter jets on display at the Academy played key roles in our national defense! Steve Simon ’77 has their story!
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Flashing Back to the F-105D Thunderchief
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
In this episode of the Heritage Minute podcast, host Steve Simon '77, flashes back to May 1968 when the F-105D Thunderchief static display on the USAFA Terrazzo was dedicated.
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
USAFA's F-4D Phantom II
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
The grassy center of the Academy Cadet Area’s Terrazzo open space features a static display aircraft on each of its four corners.
Thursday Mar 14, 2024
USAFA's 9/11 Memorial - Heritage Minute
Thursday Mar 14, 2024
Thursday Mar 14, 2024
The 9/11 Memorial was dedicated on September 9, 2011, as part of the Class of 1976's 35th reunion class giving project. The memorial incorporates an actual girder from the World Trade Center.
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
Heritage Minute Podcast Introduction
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
Welcome to the Heritage Minute Podcast Channel!
Welcome to
The Heritage Minute Series
There are plenty of reminders of the rich heritage and history of the United States Air Force Academy scattered throughout its 18,500-acre installation.
Whether it’s a statue honoring a war hero, a static display of historic aircraft or a collection of important memorabilia, these reminders help tell the story of USAFA and the Air Force through the decades.