The following is a summary
of the B-24 Air Memorial dedication service held at the Air Force Academy
campus in Colorado Springs, CO.
The ceremony started on time with a clear
blue sky and the academy's cadet sailplanes flying overhead. The weather
was excellent and I'd estimate there were about 800-1,000 persons in attendance.
The majority ofthose attending were WWII vets, their children, grand children,
"friends" of the Liberator, and AFA personnel. The ceremonies were held
on the Honor Court.
The Honor Court is located directly east
of Harmon Hall and northwest of the spectacular Cadet Chapel. LTC.
(Ret) Neal Sorensen gave the opening remarks. A color guard from the academy
posted the colors and the national anthem was sung by 2Lt. Holley M. Vandehei.
Lt. Vandehei sang the national anthem with exceptional skill and beauty.
The invocation was given by CPT. (Chaplain) Scott A. Ofsdahl.LTC. Sorensen
gave a short speech on how the funding for the memorial was accomplished.
I believe there were over 600 individual and organizational contributions
to the memorial fund.
Taking a look at the commemorative plaque,
it appears that every bomb group was represented. The B-24 bronze was draped
with a parachute and was unveiled by the sculptor and about a half dozen
of the key leaders in the fund raising effort.
The memorial is located at the top of the
stairs to the Honor Court. It is the first memorial that cadets walking
west from the cadet "quadrangle" and chapel will see ("Key Terrain" as we
used to say in the army). The memorial portrays a B-24J in a climbing left
turn with a moderate bank. A nice pose if you ask me. The "other bomber
of WW II" is located directly west of the B-24 and is flying "straight and
level". LTG. Tad J. Oelstrom (USAF Academy Superintendent) gave the USAFA acceptance
remarks. He said as kid that his "perception" of WWII had always been portrayed
by the B-24 Liberator. He thought it was the slickest thing with wings ,"until
I saw a fighter". He remarked that the Liberator was the plane that carried
the air war to Germany .
He was reminded after seeing a memorial
to "The Lady Be Good" at the old Wheelus AB, Libya about 30 years ago that
a lot of men gave their blood for freedom over places like Ploesti and
a hundred other targets. The Superintendent also mentioned that he will
remember the memorial dedication for all time due to a single incident. Evidently
the memorial had been completed last Tuesday.
As the general was leaving Harmon Hall,
he noticed a "Doolie" (Freshman aka "Plebe" at West Point") come running
up the stairs with his weapon at port arms, stop, execute a right face on
the marble square and recite his "cadet knowledge" of the B-24. There will
be a lot more cadets like that one reciting his knowledge of the B-24 as
long as there is a United States and a US Air Force. All in all excellent
remarks from the superintendent. Mr. Ray R. Pytel and Mr. Robert Henderson
gave the memorial credits. Mr. Henderson, the sculptor, described how he
was "volunteered" to do many of the sculptures on the Honor Court. Mr.
Henderson had planned on retiring from making more sculptures but was told
he really couldn't retire until he had sculpted the B-24. I guess he can
hang it up now.
Seriously, Mr. Henderson is an excellent
sculptor and has done many of the sculptures onthe Honor Court and around
Colorado. IIRC, he has done the P-38, P-40,P-51, B-17, and B-24 displays
at the USAFA. He has done an F4U Corsair that any of you traveling on Highway
50 through Colorado can see at the Fremont County Airport as well as a
Boeing P-26.COL. Alfred Asch (USAF Ret.) and BG John Brooks III (USAF Ret.)
gave a short speech on the history of the B-24 Liberator and Scouting Force.
A special song to the B-24 composed by a friend of John Denver was then
sung (sorry, didn't catch the name). The closing benediction was given
by CPT (Chaplain) Scott Ofsdahl.
The closing benediction was given
by CPT
(Chaplain) Scott Ofsdahl.
Poetry from the Dedication Program
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH
(LET IT BEGIN WITH ME)
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with
me
Let there be peace on earth,
The peace that
was meant to be
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony
Let peace begin with me,
Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry step
I take
Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live each moment
In peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with
me.
Let it begin with me
LORD GUARD AND GUIDE THE MEN WHO FLY
Lord guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great
spaces of the sky;
Be with them traversing the air
In darkening storms or sunshine fair.
You who support with tender might
The balanced birds in all their flight
Lord of the tempered winds, be near,
That ,having you, they know no fear
Control their minds with instinct fit
When'er, adventuring
they quit
The firm
security of land;
Grant steadfast eye and skillful hand.
Aloft in solitudes
of space,
Uphold them with saving grace.
O' God, protect
the men who fly
Through lonely ways beneath the sky.
Amen.
If you are ever in Colorado, stop by the
Air Force Academy and pay tribute to the airmen who gave us our freedom.
When you are done, be sure to stop by the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum!
Home of the International B-24 Museum
http://www.pwam.org
Pueblo, CO USA
