The United States Air Force Memorial, is a beautiful and inspiring monument to the men and women who have served in the United States Air Force.

Dedicated in 2006, the memorial is made up of three stainless steel spires that rise 402 feet into the air to represent the contrails of the Air Force Thunderbirds performing a “bomb burst” maneuver. The spires are arranged in a triangle, and they are meant to represent the three branches of the Air Force: the Air Combat Command, the Air Mobility Command, and the Air Force Space Command.

A statue of the honor guard is nearby and a Contemplation Wall as well as a Glass Wall representing The Missing Man flight formation are also part of the Memorial.

The memorial is located on a high point overlooking Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon. The views from the memorial are stunning, and it is a great place to learn about the history of the Air Force and to pay tribute to those who have served.

In the summer, The Air Force Band performs frequent concerts on the grounds.

If you are planning a visit to the Air Force Memorial, here are a few things you should know:

• The memorial is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily, except Christmas Day.
• There is no admission fee to visit the memorial.
• The memorial is located at 1 Air Force Memorial Drive, Arlington, Virginia, 22204.
• There is a parking lot located near the memorial.
• The memorial is wheelchair accessible.