Falcon Heritage Forum inspires,

motivates future heroes

By Butch Wehry
Academy Spirit staff

This Fall's theme for the Falcon Heritage Forum was "Your Heroes of USAFA."

More than 40 attendees were Academy grads who have been decorated with the Air Force Cross or the Silver Star, or have been involved in recent operations. Cadets attended sessions in Arnold Hall with these special visitors.

The guest with Cadet 3rd Class Harry Dale's group was retired Maj. Sam White. "Major White gave rich instances in which his honor and personal values were put to the test during his vast flying career that attest to his credibility as a leader, an Airman and an individual," said Cadet Dale, from Bronx, NY.

The Cadet Squadron 36 member said he drew meaning from the forum because it spoke to the importance of sacrifice and honor and the challenge to uphold those traditions in future endeavors.

"The portion of the forum that appealed most to me was when all the heroes were introduced and their accomplishments were announced," Cadet Dale said. "It instilled pride in me because I realized that I am in an organization where people have the courage and integrity to do the right thing, even when this may result in admonishment by one's peers or death in combat." What he took away from the forum was a motivation to follow in the footsteps of the special guests and uphold the tradition of honor that they have built.

"The forum was a major motivational tool for the cadets because it allowed us exposure to heroes whose real life accomplishments allow us to gain better insight as to why we are at this institution and why we wish to become officers in the United States Air Force," said Cadet Dale.

The first forum was held in 1996. In recent years, the Academy has hosted two per year. The forum would be impossible without the help and generous support of the Association of Graduates, said Chaplain Rives Duncan, an Air Force major and a cadet wing project officer.

"The class of 1974, and Michael and Nancie Freeborn have provided an enormous amount of financial support, and the AOG has been invaluable in helping us contact potential speakers," Major Duncan said.

One night during the forum, Major Duncan, Center for Character Development chaplain, was standing off to the side and some of the visiting veterans were sharing their stories. One mentioned that he had been shot down
in 1968.

A nearby veteran asked "What was the date?" "May 31, 1968."

"I was the A-1 overhead, call sign Snake 76." "Nearly 40 years after the incident, the A-1 pilot who was trying to facilitate the rescue and the pilot who had been in the jungle watching the A-1 overhead found out who the other was," Major Duncan said.