Heritage Weekend: Cadets march to honor Academy history, veterans

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachel Hammes
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Cadets marched two miles from the cadet area to the Academy Cemetery Nov. 14 in honor of Heritage Weekend, which recognizes Academy history and the Airmen who paved the way.

Organized by leaders in the cadet wing, the march incorporated key moments of Academy history, and culminated with cadets laying heritage emblems on Academy graves.

In October, Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Stephen Williams asked Cadet 1st Class Patrick Boyle, Cadet Wing director of operations, to organize an event for Heritage Weekend.

"We were brainstorming and the idea of doing a march down to the cemetery came up, Boyle said. "We thought that would be very meaningful. One of the cadets had a background in making wreaths, so that grew into the idea of making heritage emblems. I think we ended up giving the commandant a bit more than he was expecting, but we were very excited. This wasn't something that had been done here and it was something we thought the Cadet Wing would really like."

As cadets marched to the cemetery, they were met by other cadets standing in the road, reciting pivotal moments in Academy history.

"We received guidance from the commandant about that," Boyle said. "He wanted us to incorporate the good and the bad of our heritage because you need to recognize both to move forward and support the Air Force. Our character officer, Cadet 2nd Class John Hamm, worked with the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office and the Peak Performance Center to get some of those negative stories that were there. We then went through Contrails, our book of knowledge, and that's where we pulled the rest of (the information) from."

Once cadets reached the cemetery, Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson joined Cadet 1st Class Jake Sortor, the Cadet Wing commander, in laying a ceremonial wreath on the memorial wall. Cadets split up and placed heritage emblems on all the graves, adding the U.S. flag to the graves of veterans.
 
"This event is really important to us because it brings us back to the meaning behind what we do," said Cadet 3rd Class Kate Fitzgerald. "It reminds us that veterans came before us and veterans will come after us. It gives us perspective on their sacrifices and reminds us why we want to serve our country."

The ceremony ended with a Retreat Ceremony and Taps. The cadets made their way back to the Cadet Wing while discussing former Academy grads.

"Each squadron was assigned 20 veterans buried in this cemetery," Boyle said. "For the last two weeks, the various squadrons worked to research these people and then they discussed each of them. No matter if they stayed in for five years or if they were in for 30 years, every single person in the cemetery was discussed on the walk back to the cadet area."

While temperatures dipped below freezing, Boyle said the cadets were proud to participate in the event.

"We came together for something we knew was right to do," he said. "This was truly a cadet-run event, which really meant a lot to us and to the 4,000 cadets who were out there on a cold Friday night."

Once back at the cadet area, cadets took part in fireside chats with Williams and Vice Commandant of Cadets Col. Dale Holland.

"Each group got to hear war stories, and heard why we do what we do and where we're headed," Boyle said. "It's something that resonates with any Airman."