A final salute
Your generous donation can help demonstrate the incredible bond the graduate community enjoys and untangle the many details surrounding a fellow graduate’s journey to their final resting place and farewell.
Case for supportThe U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation is committed to supporting the graduate community and families as they navigate the details leading to the final celebration of life. In recent years, the Next of Kin Program has expanded to help families and classmates plan and execute travel plans, on-site funeral services, graveside ceremonies, receptions and memorial gifts. Those who are grieving appreciate the help. The Association & Foundation is working to establish an enduring funding source that will provide next of kin benefits for Air Force Academy graduates and their families in perpetuity. You can help ensure that this solemn final salute will be offered to every generation of graduates going forward.
Supporting families in
their time of need
Endowment: $1 million + This endowment would provide funding to support family members of the deceased, including:
- Offering assistance with funeral, burial and reception planning for graduates buried at the Air Force Academy Cemetery.
- Coordinating and assisting with travel and accommodations for immediate family traveling to Colorado Springs for funeral and graveside ceremonies.
- Supporting the Next of Kin luncheon held in conjunction with the Academy’s annual Next of Kin ceremony.
- Providing one-time educational funding for dependent children of the deceased.
- Funding reunion fees and lodging costs for the surviving spouse to attend the reunions planned by the classmates of the graduate who passed.
Gone But Not Forgotten
memorial publication
Endowment: $2 million
This endowment would provide funding to support the production of this keepsake publication that highlights all graduates who passed away during the previous year, including:
- Gathering and editing memorial article submissions from family members and classmates.
- Covering the cost of printing the high-quality publication.
- Supporting website enhancements.
Next of Kin programming
Endowment: $2.5 million
This endowment would provide funding for:
- Coordinating alerts to classmates about a graduate’s passing.
- Gathering Gone But Not Forgotten memorial articles from family members or classmates to preserve online and inspire future cadets and graduates.
- Maintaining a new online repository for graduate obituaries.
- Sending flowers or a memorial donation on behalf of the class.
- Supporting memorial ceremonies during class reunions.
- Updating Association & Foundation records.
- Facilitating the Air Force Academy’s annual Next of Kin Memorial Ceremony and inviting family members to attend.
- Providing requested videographer support to record on-site ceremonies.
Expanded services for a
growing graduate community
Emotions run deep as classmates gather at the grave site of one of their own who has recently passed. It’s a scene replayed dozens of times each year on the grounds of the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery. Standing at attention and facing the flag-draped casket, fellow USAFA graduates render a final salute to their friend as the sound of Taps echoes across the landscape.
Moments later, classmates step forward to place a coin on the new grave marker — a solemn sign of respect and admiration for the deceased. Whatever the mood, it’s clearly a powerful moment as family, classmates and friends bid their final farewells.
Prayers, hugs and a shared meal usually ensue. At some point, those assembled raise a toast to the departed. Throughout the day, the lasting bond of the USAFA graduate community is always on full display.
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