Cut-off date: 26 July 1996

 

Order: Section, Row, Plot

 

 

The U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery is located on the grounds of the Academy. It can be reached by exiting Interstate 25 at the north entrance to the Academy and proceeding west past the guard post, continuing approximately one-half mile to Stadium Way. After turning south on this road, proceed a short distance to Parade Loop and turn west, continuing 0.4 mile. The cemetery is on the north side of the road. According to GPS-derived geolocation (accurate to within 10 meters), the cemetery's coordinates are 39°00'55.1"N and 104°51'17.8"W. The cemetery was established September 22, 1958, and the first burial was Lt. Gen. Hubert R. Harmon (first superintendent of the Academy) on Sept. 28, 1958. Point of contact for the cemetery is the Mortuary Affairs Office at (719) 333-3323.

 

The cemetery is located in a forested area in the foothills of the Rocky Mountain Front Range and is maintained by the U.S. Air Force Academy. The cemetery consists of eight sections (only three were used in 1996), a memorial section, and a directory board with a listing of burials. USAFA Instruction 34-501 outlines the criteria for burial here, but in general, it is as follows:

 

•USAF Academy cadets and graduates

•Air Force military personnel assigned to the Academy at the time of their death

•USAF generals or lieutenant generals (active duty or retired)

•Former upper-echelon military superintendents, professors, and administrators of the Academy

•Spouses or dependent children of the above