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Air Force Memorial
Category: Public Services & Government Landmarks & Historical Buildings Landmarks & Historical Buildings [Edit]
1 Air Force Memorial DrArlington, VA 22204
(703) 979-0674
18 reviews for Air Force Memorial
Review Highlights
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"The three spires are meant to symbolize the 3 core values..." In 4 reviews -
"...of the washington monument here more than from iwo jima." In 3 reviews -
"As a proud AF brat, I too can say I love this monument." In 6 reviews
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18 reviews in English
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Review from Laura W.
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went to this memorial at night and was blown away. I'd been past it during the day and it's pretty and shiny and I liked it then but at night? WOW. The spires are lit from below, but only on one side, so the curves are really accentuated. As in the day, when you approach and walk around and past it, it seems to change; one spire looks taller or shorter than the rest. The optical illusion is fascinating. The five-pointed star from the AF emblem is represented by five glowing triangles; nice in its subtlety. On either end are walls listing three of the six military virtues and the names of those airmen awarded the medal of honor. One end also includes a beautiful life-size sculpture of an honor guard and the other, an itched glass image of the Missing Man Formation. Gorgeous.
The view of the District is gorgeous; the Kennedy Center, Capital Building, and Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Monuments all glow at night. Even the traffic from 395 right there seems to disappear.
Loved it. -
Review from Corbo E.
5/30/2011 60 photos
Remarkably, unlike most Americans, I do not personally know of anyone who has served our country in battle; and, I have not served and seen combat myself.
During the course of my life, certainly, I have had my share of victories and, yes, my share of "losses" as well (although the "losses" have occurred mostly in the game of life...with my coming up short in all manner of pursuits and endeavors). So, in that regard, I know something about hurt and pain (but, not in the deepest sense - not like civilians or airmen who suffered the loss of someone they knew or airmen who were killed themselves).
Therefore, when I visited the Air Force Memorial today, what I felt was not some kind of reminiscence. I did not suddenly think of an uncle or a friend (nor did I conjure up some dark experience that I once faced myself). Instead, when I entered the stately grounds of the memorial and noticed the three stainless steel spires, which are its centerpiece, I did not think of airmen, service, and sacrifice necessarily, but something akin to grace and austerity. These feelings, which arose more from my appreciation of design and form (and which only slightly hinted at anything philosophical), grew much more intense when I began reading the many inscriptions that were carved at intervals alongside the walkways.
One inscription, attributed to George W. Bush read: "A soldier can walk the battlefields where he once fought; a marine can walk the beaches he once stormed; but an airman can never visit the patch of sky he raced across on a mission to defend freedom. And so it's fitting that the men and women of the air force have this memorial, a place here on the ground that recognizes their achievements and sacrifices in the skies above."
Of course, I had thought, in a rather Taoist way, that having a "patch of sky" was its own reward...that like birds, flying through the sky, we should not allow any thought or emotion (be it desirable or aversive) to linger but, rather, dissipate like the very flight of a bird that leaves no trace.
Maybe, however, because we are imperfect (and not like birds), we need the ground more than the sky. Sometimes, perhaps, when we are feeling frail and vulnerable, we need to reflect and have thoughts and even burdens that do not simply dissipate beneath the flapping wings of a bird (or the rigid wings of a jet fighter). Maybe, because we are who we are, we need to take steps...one at a time (and, then, look back occasionally, to check for them).
As much as I'd like to proceed effortlessly like a bird, I know, really, that I am nowhere close to being that free and that I too (like our bravest airmen), would feel somehow imcomplete...
If all I had to show for my thoughts and actions was simply a patch of sky...Listed in: Overlooked Sites
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Review from Henry S.
Alexandria, VA
4/26/2011 6 photos
To be honest .......it's ugly, it looks stupid, and it doesn't belong here. No one can see it except the commuters on I 395 and if you are driving....you don't see it. It is short because it is so close to DCA and the Pentagon Heliport. They really couldn't build it tall. It's in an obscure location.......but that's not the worst of it.
It's actually in the flight line of American Airlines 77 the flight that hit the Pentagon on 9-11. That's right that airliner flew over the Navy Annex, over the current location of the Air Force Memorial, clipped a street light and plowed into the western side of the Pentagon...right there. That's where my eyes go whenever I am there. They look west to the Navy Annex, over the three spires, down the hill and I'm looking straight at the impact sight. I still see the open wound........the billowing smoke.....the flag draped over the building......what can I say, PTSD is a b*tch man.
The Air Force deserved better. The only reason it's there is because Gen Richard Meyer insisted on it. The Air Force was the only branch of the military that did not have a memorial in Washington DC so they built it in haste next to the old Navy Annex, in Arlington.
There should be a proper memorial for the Air Force on the Mall or near the Tidal Basin or some place prominent in DC like the Navy Memorial. Some place where the country can honor the sacrifice and bravery of all Airmen, without being reminded of 9-11. -
Review from Nick R.
12/6/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I like this memorial.
1. Great spot over looking the city.
2. It's graceful form can be seen across the district.
3. It fits its subject without being overly literal, or overly abstract.
4. It is generally low on crowds, though it is in the middle of nowhere.
5. Make a good two for one visit along with the Pentagon Memorial. -
Review from Donald P.
11/11/2008
As a proud AF brat, I too can say I love this monument. However be careful when driving past it. On a bright day, there's something about the arrangement and shape of the three jet streams that create something of an optical illusion when driving past it on I-395. I've almost driven into the adjacent lane because the shifting jet streams stole my attention away from the road.
I'm not encouraging anyone to do this but has this happened to anyone else? -
Review from Gayle G.
Woodbridge, VA
12/13/2006 1 photo
I just flew back into DC (National Airport to be specific) and saw the Air Force Memorial while driving past. It is truly unlike any other memorial in the area.
First of all, it is TALL. The spires are almost 300 feet so the memorial is easy to spot from 395 and Pentagon City. The slight arc of the three spires is reminiscent of a jet's flight path, while each spire itself represents an Air Force core value.
At the actual memorial, an honor guard stands at the west entrance while a the north is a glass wall with enscriptions. You can see the Washington Monument while standing under the spires. I need to check that out next time I am on the Mall..I wonder if the view works both ways.Listed in: Think You Know D.C??
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Review from Brandon S.
Alexandria, VA
3/27/2009
You don't have to be a tourist to go visit all the monuments that litter the DC and surrounding area's landscape. A revisit to some of these from time to time can be incredibly humbling. The Vietnam Veteran's memorial lists the thousands upon thousands of men and women who lost their lives, in a seemingly endless list of sacrifice. The Marine Corps War Memorial depicts the Marines and Corpsman that are raising the flag on Iwo Jima, an incredibly bloody and fierce battle that saw 6800 US servicemen (6000 Marines) lose their lives. These memorials are paying tribute to those individuals that gave up their lives.
The Air Force Memorial depicts the 'bomb burst' flight maneuver by the Air Force Thunderbirds a precision flight crew. Though a large and impressively built monument, wouldn't some kind of focal point on larger sacrifices be more appropriate? Perhaps St. Mihiel in WWI or Midway in WWII? Maybe the constant danger helicopter pilots put themselves in saving Marines and soldiers alike in Vietnam? I think this monument just misses the whole idea of raising a memorial for the people who have come before you. -
Review from Catie C.
5/18/2009 3 photos
3 needles that looks cool. If I were to use my imagination, it resembles the "tail of cloud" from 3 planes. The star on the base is cool too when the points are lit up.
To the point, it's a sculpture and it takes an artist to value it. -
Review from Jon D.
Alexandria, VA
8/18/2007 2 photos
The Air Force Memorial is perhaps the most impressive and inspiring monument in the greater DC area. Its distinctive curves are visible from I-395, Arlington, DC, and even on the Potomac -- a worthy addition to the metro DC skyline.
But this stunning structure could be called "the memorial that almost wasn't." As late as 1999, the AF Memorial Foundation was fighting with the Marine Corps forces over its placement on Arlington Ridge, in a spot between the Netherlands Carillon and the Iwo Jima Memorial (commonly called the Marine Corps Memorial). Only later was the present site, on the former grounds of a US Navy headquarters building approved. Worse still, the original design called for a "50-foot-tall aluminum, origami-like structure that would include an underground visitors center." (The National Review, 28 June 1999) The design was intended to be a 3-dimensional representation of the Air Force Star, which dates back to the Army Air Corps in World War II. Sadly this design was uninspiring and was compared unfavorably with the design of a lunar lander. Through a compromise in 2002, the new site was approved by the National Capital Planning Commission. Only after this site was chosen did the AF Memorial Foundation decide they needed a better design to honor the brave men and women of the US Air Force. We are all the better for this strange chain of events.
Sources:
http://findarticles.co...
http://www.afa.org/mag... -
Review from Tia K.
Arlington, VA
10/31/2006
Ok- so at first we were a little disappointed to find out that there would be no huge airplane atop these 270 feet spires, but the finished memorial (Opened Fall 2006) is quite beautiful. Visible from 395 and some spots in downtown DC- this memorial is near the Navy Annex (and Columbia Pike) in Arlington. The three spires are meant to symbolize the 3 core values of the Air Force: integrity, service before self, and excellence in all. The memorial is also meant to evoke the awe-inspiring trail of smoke emitted behind a "Bomb Burst" maneuver. Wonderful addition to the memorial scene.
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Review from Reza R.
Stamford, CT
2/8/2012
on the way to arlington on 395 south i saw 2 great curved pointed shiny colums after driving a litle more i saw the third one .did not know what it was but it had grace . when i got back home to connecticut , i searched the web and found out it is air force memorial . am glad to have seen it .
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Review from Andrew S.
12/17/2010 5 photos
By far, this is my favorite night-time DC monument/memorial. While not much to look at from a distance (especially from the day), being up close and personal with the lighting effects on a nice night make this memorial amazing. The view you get of DC from the hillside as well as the impressive lighting make the AF Memorial a must see at night when you visit DC or when playing tour guide for visitors.
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Review from Jamie B.
Bowie, MD
11/11/2008
As an Air Force veteran, I am proud of our memorial and most inspired by it standing by the base following its' arc into the sky (but not during a lightning storm...). My 7 year old daughter found a different inspiration... Riding across the 14th Street Bridge from DC, she shouted, "A giant cockroach!" and all the car's passengers exploded into laughter at the sight of the giant feelers and antenna probing the Virginia air... From that point of view, the Air Force Memorial surely looked like some prop for "Them II..." For better or for worse, the kids compete to see who can be first to spot "The Giant Cockroach" when the Arlington skyline looms into view of the minivan...
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Review from Alley S.
Portland, ME
9/27/2010
Nice location by Henderson Hall, USMC & the Sheraton Hotel.
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Review from Jim U.
3/15/2009
Allow me to break the streak of 5-star reviews for this memorial. I love our fly boys, and I work for the Department of Defense, but I really am not a fan of this memorial. Aesthetically it is very displeasing, and it does not make a whole lot of sense when you see it from a distance, unless you know what it is. Perhaps planes on the end of each spire would have been more apropos. But to me, it just looks like 3 giant spikes emanating from the ground with no explicit purpose. In fact, it reminds me of the climax scene in Star Trek V when the crew meet "God" at the center of the universe, and large rock spires starting shooting forth from the ground. At best, this is a Star Trek V memorial. That movie deserves to be buried!
Listed in: Art and Architecture in the…
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Review from Amanda M.
Washington, DC
6/8/2008
I have not visited the site itself, but I love seeing the memorial as I drive down 395 and other parts of VA. Its very beautiful.
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Review from Ryan W.
2/28/2010
Driving by the Air Force Memorial for about 2.5 years since its dedication, I thought the three spires were interesting, but didn't really understand them, other than knowing they represented a "cluster formation" of jets. Recently, when I visited with my dad, an Air Force veteran, I finally started to understand the grandeur of the spires, which are best appreciated close-up. The views from the plaza of the Pentagon, Arlington Cemetary and downtown DC beyond are probably second only to the Marine Corps memorial. I had to deduct one star (almost deducted two) for the memorial tchotchkes which adorn both ends of the memorial's plaza. Rather than let the memorial speak for itself, there are all kinds of inscriptions highlighting the history of the Air Force, its Order of Battle, Medal of Honor recipients, and quotes from prominent Air Force personnel. The quotes, while expressing noble sentiments and inspiring thoughts, they don't even come close to the soaring grandeur of those three spires to honor the memory of those who served and died high in the sky.
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Review from Em C.
San Ramon, CA
11/17/2007
very unique from all angles. we stopped here on our past-midnight tour. the spires just seem to reach so far into the black sky. i like the view of the washington monument here more than from iwo jima. i was also very fortunate to get a view of the Air Force Memorial from the America's Heroes Memorial inside the Pentagon (site of impact) - truly moving.
Listed in: DC Tourist
