The New U.S. Air Force Memorial
Last month, during a ceremony which included speeches by President Bush and Donald Rumsfeld, a new monument was unveiled just across the Potomac River from Washington DC - the new U.S. Air Force Memorial.
The new 270 foot stainless steel memorial honors the millions of men and women who have served in the U.S. Air Force and its predecessor organizations, such as the Army Air Corps and Army Air Force, as well as to the 54,000 service personnel who have been killed in action.
Located adjacent to Arlington Cemetery, it overlooks Washington DC, the Potomac River and the Pentagon. It’s clearly visible from many places in Washington DC and is now part of DC’s (actually suburban Northern Virginia’s) skyline.
It’s the only monument in the Washington DC area honoring the Air Force.
According to the Air Force Memorial Foundation’s website, the three spires are intended to “invoke flight and the flying spirit” and “represent the three core Air Force values of - integrity first, service before self, and excellence”.
The $30 million memorial also includes a Runway to Glory, a glass “Missing Man” Contemplation Wall, which honors airmen and women who died in service to their country, as well as a bronze Air Force Honor Guard statute.
The original planned location for the memorial was about 200 meters from the Marines (Iwo Jima) Memorial, but was changed to its current location after much controversy and protests from the Marines about its proximity to the Iwo Jima Memorial. Celebrated architect James Ingo Freed, also the designer of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Ronald Reagan building in DC, designed the new memorial.
The Air Force Memorial is located just off Interstate 395 just south of Arlington National Cemetery and a bit west of the Pentagon in suburban Arlington.
U.S. Air Force Memorial
One Air Force Memorial Drive, Arlington, VA, 22211.
Directions
While the online map services have yet to add the memorial’s address to their database, here are direction from DC (source: U.S. Air Force Memorial site).
Take I-395 South toward Virginia. Merge onto I-395 S toward Richmond and stay on it for 2 miles. Next, take exit 8A - Washington Blvd / VA-27 West toward Ridge Rd. Take the Columbia Pike / VA-244 ramp toward Bailey’s Cross Roads. Turn slight right onto VA-244 / Columbia Pike. The Memorial will be visible on Columbia Pike on your left.
Parking
Parking is free, but limited.
Tickets
No admission is charged.
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[...] Last week, I had my first chance to visit the new Air Force Memorial located adjacent to the Pentagon. I wrote an earlier post about the memorial in The DC Traveler in November. [...]
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