Heritage Minute Special

The Discovery of a Legend

During his days as a cadet, Col. (Retired) Jim Moschgat ’77 made a remarkable discovery: one of the Academy’s janitors was a Medal of Honor recipient. Listen now to hear the amazing story of William Crawford.
 
 
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
 
 

Where it All Began - The USAFA Founders Day Story

April 1, 1954 is the day President Dwight D. Eisenhower shook hands with then Secretary of the Air Force, Harold E. Talbott. The president had just signed legislation authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Air Force Academy. USAFA’s Founders Day has been celebrated on April 1 ever since. 
 
(Left Image) President Dwight D. Eisenhower (seated) shakes hands with Secretary of the Air Force Harold E. Talbott on April 1, 1954, after signing legislation authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Looking on (from left) are Congressman Carl Vinson, Georgia; Gen. Nathan F. Twining, Air Force chief of staff; Congressman Dewey Short, Missouri, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee; James H. Douglas, undersecretary of the Air Force, and Lt. Gen. Hubert R. Harmon, special assistant for the Academy.
 - (Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force Academy McDermott Library Archives)
(Right Image) The first class of Air Force Academy cadets at the Academy's first home, Lowery AFB, Denver, CO.
 
 
 
 
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
 
 
 
 
 

The History Making USAFA Class of ’69

In this Heritage Minute Special: Col. (Ret.) Darrel Whitcomb '69 recently led a reunion of his classmates and emceed a briefing outlining their roles during the Vietnam War. The group heard from fellow pilots, search-and-rescue team members and former POWs. Join the conversation between host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 and Col. Whitcomb, a passionate historian and published author with a great many stories to tell.
 
 
 
 
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
 
 

USAFA'S Exceptional Collector

In this edition of Heritage Minute Special, host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 is holding a reunion of sorts.

USAFA's Command Historian

In this edition of the Heritage Minute Special podcast, host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ‘77 is speaking with the Academy’s Command Historian, Dr. Brian Laslie.  During this conversation, we get into his love of history and how that led him to  the Academy.
 
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
 
 

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. Unlike Steve, who developed his passion for the field only about 20 years ago, Maj. Rightmyer's dates back to his days as a USAFA cadet. These kindred spirits have been drawn together by their mutual interest in history and heritage. 
 
 
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
 
 

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.  
 
 
 
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
 
 

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.
 
 
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
 
 
 

A Heritage Minute Special Special!

When it’s all about holding up our end of the historical preservation and Academy story telling mission… Beginning Sunday, January 5, history makers, observers and your favorite historical story teller, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77, all meet in the same place the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month and you get to listen in! 
 
 
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
 
 

USAFA'S Cadet Sabres: Now Made in the USA

The production of USAFA’s cadet sabers has moved from Germany to Colorado Springs. Heritage Minute Special host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 is closely connected with the people and the processes and explains the change.MORE ABOUT STEVE SIMONSteve and his wife, Paula, are not only charter members, but Steve is a founding signatory on the original agreement to form the group back in 1994. In addition, Steve and Paula share a notable distinction with only five other Sabre Society members:  they have faithfully made their yearly donation every year since the Sabre Society's inception without a single miss.
And there's still more. Steve serves the Association of Graduates and Foundation as writer and historian. As a recognized authority on all things Sabre Society, Steve wrote a feature piece for the December 2024 edition of Checkpoints Magazine on the Sabre Society's 30 anniversary year and a major change in the manufacture of USAFA's cadet sabres. That article is linked below as a free downloadable PDF file.
In addition to his Checkpoints piece, he has also hosted two Heritage Minute Special podcasts, collaborated with the AOG's Ryan Hall to produce a companion video (embedded below), and much more.   
 
 
READ MORE BY STEVE SIMON IN THE DECEMBER 2024 CHECKPOINTS
*FREE PDF DOWNLOAD*
 
 
MORE ON THE SABRE SOCIETY HERE
 
 
 
 - Video written and produced for Checkpoints Magazine by Ryan Hall and Steve Simon
 
 
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
 
 

The Sabre Society Celebrating 30 Years Hard at Work

The Sabre Society came into existence 30 years ago when the Air Force Academy joined with the Association of Graduates in 1995 to sign a MOU.

A Legacy of Leadership and Scholarship - Gen. (Ret.) Steve Lorenz ’73

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
GEN. (RET.) STEPHEN R. LORENZ ’73
 
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
 
 

How the Wings of Blue got its Start - A Heritage Minute Special

It all started in the spring of 1962 when a band of bootleg jumpers made their first parachute jumps as cadets.

"Honor Bound" A Portrait in Courage - A Heritage Minute Special

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.

Things you Might not Know About Jimmy Doolittle - A Heritage Minute Special

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.  

Chief Master SGT. (Ret.) Bob Vasquez - A Heritage Minute Special

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

45 Years Serving the Long Blue Line - A Heritage Minute Special

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.

Eyewitness to Operation Homecoming - A Story Untold for 50 Years

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.

Mystery, History and Stories - A Heritage Minute Special

Have you met the “USAFA Before USAFA History Guy?”

Heritage Minute Podcast Introduction

Welcome to the Heritage Minute Podcast Channel!