Posted on 02/13/2006 4:11:21 PM PST by SandRat
2/13/2006 - ARLINGTON, Va. (AFPN) -- Construction crews raised the first piece of the Air Force Memorial here on top of a hill overlooking Arlington National Cemetery.
The 40-foot long piece of stainless steel, which weighs more than 20,000 tons, is the first of 15 pieces to be placed. When completed, the memorial will be 270 feet tall.
“The design is a take-off on the Air Force (jet aircraft) doing the bomb burst maneuver … also, that graceful arc of a missile launch and there are three spires," said retired Maj. Gen. Ed Grillo, Air Force Memorial Foundation president.
The three upward spires represent the Air Force's core values -- integrity, service before self and excellence in all we do.
"We thought that was very emblematic of representing today’s Air Force,” he said.
The memorial is scheduled to open Oct. 13 in conjunction with the Air Force’s 60th anniversary.
The memorial will also include a bronze honor guard, inscription walls and a glass chamber of contemplation to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“There have been a total, including our predecessor organizations, of over 54,000 people that have been killed in action. We need a tribute and it's long overdue to the United States Air Force," General Grillo said.
To find out more about the memorial, visit the Web site at http://www.airforcememorial.org/.
Air Force PING
Is it really plausible that a crane picked up something weighing 40 million pounds and that it was transported to the site?
That's what they wrote but like you I think it's wrong. 20,000 Pounds maybe but not 20,000 tonnes.
I think S/sgt Weckerlein may need to double check her numbers.
Ping Me Please.
That's 44,092,452.43697552 lbs. to be exact. It's probably one of those super cranes powered by global warming.
Image of the site.
http://travist.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/ustc.jpg
It's a high volume list but you're on it now.
Just from the description, it sounds trite, tacky and overdone -- and I'm an AF veteran.
That's what it would be in metric tons (1 metric ton = 1000 kg.) As far as I know, in the US, "ton" usually means "short ton", which is 2000 pounds.
I saw the artist's rendition at the site. Count another Air Force veteran as one who doesn't get it.
This is the work of modern art that the Marine Corps stopped from being placed next to the Marine Corps War Memorial.
This will be pretty cool going towards DC right before you come upon the Pentagon. Now for you locals, what in the world are they building on 110 between the Pent and Rosslyn? I have seen them move dirt around for almost a year...and the pile is getting higher. It has to be more than an extension of Arlington Cem.
Oh, well, if I'd wanted taste I'd have joined the Navy.
please add this AF mother to ping. Thanks.
BTTT
You're on the list now. It is high volume for DOD wide news and FreeperCanteen.
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