WATCH LIVE: Air Force Academy graduation honors class of 2020, Pence to give commencement address
US AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (KRDO) -- This is a year of many firsts for cadets and the Air Force Academy. Family and friends have been barred from attending over coronavirus precautions and the cadets will each sit six feet apart. Instead, the event will be available through a live stream. It's excepted to start at about 11 a.m.
Regardless, it will be an event to remember. VP Mike Pence will be in town to deliver the commencement address -- a change of plans from his initial commitment to just provide a video address.
Click here for coverage of Pence's arrival and commencement address.
WATCH LIVE below starting at about 11 a.m. for coverage of graduation and an appearance from the Thunderbirds:
Despite the ongoing pandemic, nearly 1,000 graduates heard the words they've been waiting four years to hear, "dismissed!"
Their celebration came as Vice President Pence told the crowd, "Class of 2020, this is your day."
For the first time in history, the graduates held their ceremony in the terrazzo instead of Falcon Stadium. They marched and sat through the commencement, eight feet apart.
"Now comes your turn to do yours, to defend the people of this nation, and this we know you will do. For long after the coronavirus is defeated, your mission will go on," Vice President Pence said.
Another first for the graduating class was commissioning 90 graduates for Space Force.
General John W. Raymond, Chief of Space Operations told them, "I need you to be bold, you will build this service from the ground up, you will help define our war-fighting culture, you will build the space force as the first digital service."
Regardless of their new role, Pence encouraged the graduates ending his speech with these words, "aim high, fly, fight and win and always keep that target in sight."
Plus, the Thunderbirds demonstration team will still make an appearance, although it will be a paired down version of their traditional aerobatics routine.
After the ceremony, the Thunderbirds will cruise down through the entire state to honor first responders and healthcare workers amid the COVID-19 crisis. They'll begin in Greeley, go up to Fort Collins, and then back down along the front range to Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Check out their flight plan below to make sure you get a good spot at the right time.
Did you see them fly overhead? Send us your pictures at krdonews@krdo.com.
