AFA Graduation 2016: What you need to know
The Air Force Academy will be holding its annual graduation ceremony on Thursday (06/02/16). The Thunderbirds will be practicing on Monday and Tuesday in preparation for the event.
GRADUATION DAY
The graduation ceremony for the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Class of 2016 is June 2, starting at 9:30 a.m., in Falcon Stadium on the U.S. Air Force Academy grounds.
President Barack Obama will be the commencement speaker for this year’s graduation ceremony. The end of the ceremony will feature an aerial demonstration by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, in the team’s only Colorado performance for 2016.
Falcon Stadium gates will open at 7 a.m. on June 2. Due to increased security requirements, please ensure you arrive very early as traffic coming on base will be heavy and there may be long lines at the Stadium. All visitors should be prepared to show valid identification, vehicle registration and proof of auto insurance. Vehicles may be inspected upon entry. If Force Protection Conditions change, some scheduled events may also change or require additional security precautions for the safety of all our guests. Any event changes will be announced via local media and the Academy’s official Facebook page
If the graduation ceremony is moved indoors due to dangerous weather or security reasons, general public and staff ticket holders will not be able to attend. If the ceremony is moved, notification will go out by June 2 at 7 a.m., via local media and the Academies official Facebook page.
PARKING AND RESTRICTIONS
The North and South Gates to the Air Force Academy, and the Falcon Stadium gates, will open at 7 a.m. Graduation tickets will be needed for entry into the stadium. Ticket holders should plan to arrive at the stadium no later than 8:30 a.m., due to increased security and heavy traffic.
Once the ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m., guests will not be permitted to leave the stadium until after the conclusion of the ceremony and the Thunderbirds aerial performance, at approximately 1:15 p.m.
All parking is in Falcon Stadium parking lots 1, 2 and 5. Handicapped parking is available in Lot 5 of Falcon Stadium, accessible via the North Gate, and a smaller handicapped parking area is available in Lot 1, accessible via the South Gate. You may use your own state handicapped placard to enter these lots. If you do not have a handicapped placard but one or more of your guests may require some transportation assistance, you may request to park in the handicapped area from the lot attendant upon arrival.
Please note that there are no elevators in the stadium, and handicapped-accessible seating is limited to first-come, first-served. There is no covered seating available. No transportation will be available from the Cadet Area.
Due to security restrictions in Falcon Stadium, all guests will pass through metal detectors, and may have purses or personal items searched. No boxes, alcohol, weapons, firecrackers, beverage containers, backpacks, large handbags, coolers, thermoses or similar items will be allowed in the stadium. Drinks are prohibited with the exception of clear, unopened water bottles. Food is permitted, but must be displayed in a transparent one-gallon zip lock bag. Click here forThe full list of restrictions
CAMERAS AND VIDEO
Cameras and video cameras are permitted; however, please be prepared to remove camera lenses for security inspection at the stadium gates. Diaper bags will be allowed when a child is present – no strollers please. Refreshments will be available from vendors throughout the stadium.
Click here for more information about the Academy’s graduation
THUNDERBIRDS PRACTICE
The majority of the Thunderbirds aircraft will arrive May 30 and fly over the Academy around 10 a.m. that day as part of their arrival to Colorado Springs. The Thunderbirds have two practices scheduled. There is a short practice planned for 2:30-3:30 p.m. on May 30, and a full practice scheduled for May 31, 11 a.m. to noon.
Each practice will be centered over the Academy’s Falcon Stadium, and are subject to weather cancellation.
The Thunderbirds’ graduation day performance start time will depend on timing with the end-of-ceremony hat toss, but is expected to take place at approximately noon. The performance will last approximately 30 minutes.
For the safety of the general public, certain roads will be closed around Falcon Stadium during the practices and the graduation day performance. These closures are mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure the performance area is free of all personnel.
The general public is reminded not to stop along Interstate 25 to watch the performances.
Click here for more information about the Thunderbirds
GUITARIST GOES AIRBORNE WITH AIR FORCE THUNDERBIRDS
Guitarist/vocalist Joe King of The Fray goes airborne Tuesday, May 31, with the Air Force Thunderbirds.
The Fray is a pop/rock band based in Denver. King is a founding member of the four-piece band, along with fellow vocalist/pianist Isaac Slade.
The Fray is an American rock band from Denver. Formed in 2002 by schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King, they achieved success with the release of their debut album in 2005 and their second album debuted at number one on the Billboard charts in 2009.
Before the band hits the road on its summer tour, King will get to even higher altitudes with a little help from the Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds will be in Colorado Springs to support the June 2 Air Force Academy graduation ceremony, and have offered King an orientation ride in one of their F-16D Fighting Falcons.
About The Fray:
The Fray is a four-time grammy nominated American rock band with members, Joe King (guitar, vocals), Isaac Slade (piano, vocals) Dave Welsh (guitar), and Ben Wysocki (drums). The Denver-based group formed in 2002 after high school friends Slade and King bumped into each other at a local music shop. The Fray achieved national success with their 2005 debut, featuring the 3X platinum hit single “Over My Head (Cable Car)” and the 5X platinum “How to Save a Life.” The album was certified triple-platinum. The band released their self-titled album in 2009, which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and earned The Fray a 2010 Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album and included the 3X platinum single “You Found Me.” and platinum selling “Never Say Never.” The album is certified platinum.
Most recently, the band performed for Pope Francis in Philadelphia for the festival of families event in front of several hundred thousand fans. Currently, the band is recording new music to be out late 2016, and will be touring this fall. King, Slade, and Wysocki all still reside proudly in Denver, CO.
