As one explores the 18,500-acre grounds of the U.S. Air Force Academy, they are surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, striking modern architecture and solemn tributes to the pioneers of the Air Force and the Academy itself. One place in particular brings all these elements together: the Academy Cemetery.

Tucked among pine trees just east of the Cadet Area, this 100-acre cemetery is the final resting place for nearly 2,000 individuals. It stands as a place of honor and reflection, with a history that reaches back to the Academy’s earliest days at its permanent location.

On Sept. 22, 1958 — less than a month after cadets arrived from their temporary home at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver — General Order Number 32 formally established the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery. Just six days later, on Sept. 28, the first funeral was held. Fittingly, it honored Lt. Gen. Hubert R. Harmon, the Academy’s first superintendent and a driving force behind its creation.

Gen. Harmon had passed away on Feb. 22, 1957, at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, after a battle with cancer. Though he did not live to witness the graduation of the Academy’s first class — the Class of 1959 — his legacy was deeply felt. His funeral was attended by the entire Cadet Wing, Academy staff, and hundreds of relatives and friends. It marked the first time the Cadet Wing donned their all-white parade uniforms, a design crafted by legendary Hollywood director and producer Cecil B. DeMille.