The Spirit of ’76 Echelon… A Tribute to the Long Blue Line
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Our heritage, our legacy, our tradition, we gain from those before us and pass on to those who follow a path of service through air and space. We, by what we have done and will do, create this path that guides future Airmen and Guardians with a true compass. So, when our country calls, they answer with a collective sense of service, wisdom, and courage from this path we call … “The Long Blue Line.”
Before you is a tribute to all the graduating classes of our Academy. A tribute to all those who sought, and still seek to serve through a multitude of disciplines to accomplish the missions of the Air Force and Space Force. We have chosen propeller blades with each class crest to represent every discipline in the Air and Space Forces. These blades were engineered to propel the mighty C-130 Hercules on its maiden flight. In that same year of 1954, our Academy was born with the construction of academic and dormitory buildings, an iconic multi-faith chapel, and athletic fields to house and train America’s future warriors. The blades are arranged in echelon, an ancient Greek battle formation. This formation was adopted by those who fly for its tactical benefits in battle. For in this formation, not only the leader, but all warriors can see straight ahead, while also providing mutual support for their wingmen. Each flight member has the other flight members “6” as it is called.
So, as future classes traverse the Long Blue Line, we who came before, have their 6. Our heritage, our legacy, our tradition propels them forward. “In Echelon, we carry on!”
Additional Details
Before you is a tribute to all the graduating classes of our Academy. A tribute to all those who sought, and still seek to serve through a multitude of disciplines to accomplish the missions of the Air Force and Space Force. We have chosen propeller blades with each class crest to represent every discipline in the Air and Space Forces. These blades were engineered to propel the mighty C-130 Hercules on its maiden flight. In that same year of 1954, our Academy was born with the construction of academic and dormitory buildings, an iconic multi-faith chapel, and athletic fields to house and train America’s future warriors. The blades are arranged in echelon, an ancient Greek battle formation. This formation was adopted by those who fly for its tactical benefits in battle. For in this formation, not only the leader, but all warriors can see straight ahead, while also providing mutual support for their wingmen. Each flight member has the other flight members “6” as it is called.
So, as future classes traverse the Long Blue Line, we who came before, have their 6. Our heritage, our legacy, our tradition propels them forward. “In Echelon, we carry on!”
Additional Details
- Objective: The Spirit of ’76 Tribute to the Long Blue Line (LBL) will remember all those who graduated and will graduate from USAFA with a deep desire to serve and contribute to our nation’s worldwide commitment to freedom. We will link the generations of graduates from past to future and from air to space
- Theme: Members of the LBL exemplify a lifetime of serving others. Each class owes a debt of gratitude to the classes that preceded them and a debt of inspiration to the classes that follow them.
- Physical Representation: The Tribute will feature one B-25 prop for the Class of 1959 and then C-130 props in echelon, by decade, to emphasize the Long Blue Line from 1959 to 2079. Continuation of the echelons to 2079 will allow us to connect to the Tricentennial Class of 2076. Each C-130 prop will have the class crest on a single blade and be mounted on a three-foot hexagonal pedestal. Each pedestal will have a plaque featuring the factual data on the class at graduation.
- Endowment: The Spirit of ’76 Endowment will support deceased graduate family needs, including costs associated with dependent children higher education needs; lodging for a spouse and children to attend memorial/burial services at the USAFA recognizing their fallen graduate; and surviving spouse needs to attend major class reunions.
The supporting kiosk will focus on the future of the Air and Space Force using a starship concept as a cover. The center of the kiosk will feature an open oculus under which a stainless-steel replica of the monolith from 2001 and Space Odyssey will stand. The monolith will reflect its surroundings and in combination with the oculus reflect the future of our nation, service, and academy. The starship will be supported by four dedication walls and covered by four aluminum spires inspired by the iconic Cadet Academy Chapel. The kiosk will feature a QR code that will link to a database of all graduates.
The Class of 59 will be honored using a B-25 prop that will link them to our World War II heritage and to all the classes that followed. It will be located just outside the Kiosk and serve as the Flight Lead for the class echelons by decade along the trail.
The Spirit of ’76 Echelon… A Tribute to the Long Blue Line will be constructed along the Memorial Trail (near Doolittle Hall) on the South and East sides of the SEA pavilion.
- The Class of ’76 gift will pay for the pedestals and props through 2079 and the corresponding class plaques up through our Legacy class of 2026. Subsequent class plaques will be paid for as part of the Legacy Class program. For example the class of 1977 will honor their Legacy class by adding the class of 2027’s plaque to the Long Blue Line Memorial upon their graduation and commissioning.
- In furtherance of our “lifelong” commitment of service to others, funds raised above and beyond the $3.0M expected to construct The Spirit of ’76 Echelon… A Tribute to the Long Blue Line, will be used to create an endowment, named in honor of The Class of ’76, that supports AOG next-of-kin needs in perpetuity. The Spirit of ’76 Endowment will support deceased graduate family needs including dependent children higher education, lodging for spouse and children to attend a deceased graduates internment, and a surviving spouse’s ability to attend a major class reunion.
