Air Force Memorial Launched

President Bush dedicated the new Air Force Memorial during a ceremony in Washington Oct. 14 attended by past and present military leaders, political and business representatives and thousands of Airmen and ordinary citizens. Participating were H. Ross Perot Jr., chairman of the Air Force Memorial foundation, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Also present were former chiefs of staff of the Air Force, secretaries of the Air Force, chief master sergeants of the Air Force, Air Force Medal of Honor recipients and their families. The Air Force Band performed several pieces, and aircraft, ranging from World War I bi-planes to today’s stealth bombers and fighters, flew over in chronological order to mark the evolution of military flight. The ceremony ended with a demonstration by the Thunderbirds. The Air Force Band and country music singer Lee Ann Womack performed concerts following the ceremony.