The Air Force Memorial
The Air Force Memorial is the last military service monument to be erected in the National Capital Region.
The United States Air Force Memorial honors the service and heritage of the men and women of the United States Air Force and its heritage organizations. The Memorial is located in Arlington, Virginia, on federal property adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, overlooking the Pentagon at Columbia Pike and South Joyce Street.
Three stainless steel spires soar into the sky from the promontory, reaching 402 feet above sea level. Granite walls contain inscriptions describing the valor and values of aviation pioneers supporting the Air Force and its predecessor military organizations.
The Air Force Memorial’s striking centerpiece consists of three 200- to 270-foot, curving stainless steel and concrete spires overlooking Washington, D.C.—visible from the city and highways approaching Arlington. The spires, collectively called “Soaring to Glory,” translate the contrails of the bomb-burst formation into soaring physical form.
According to James Ingo Freed, the memorial’s “array of arcs against the sky evokes a modern image of flight by jet and space vehicles. At the same time, it enshrines the past in permanent resemblance of the pioneers of flight who came before and pays homage to the future.” Furthermore, the number three holds particular meaning for the Air Force, evoking its core values: “Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.” The three spires also suggest the USAF’s active, guard, and reserve force. Beneath the spires stands the USAF’s star logo, seen on its aircraft, missiles, and enlisted uniforms.
The Air Force Memorial is the last military service monument erected in the National Capital Region and is the last design project of American architect James Ingo Freed. The Air Force Memorial uses architectural design, inscriptions, and sculpture to represent the Air Force heritage, including those intrepid pioneers in early flight balloon reconnaissance and the advent of manned flight in air and space.
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