Wreath Ceremony

The Air Force Thunderbirds flew over the new Air Force Memorial in the "Missing Man" formation at the conclusion of the wreath dedication ceremony led by Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne, whom with the help of Air Force Chief of Staff T. Michael Mosely and Air Force Memorial Foudation Chairman Ross Perot, Jr., Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley and former Secretaries of the Air Force, Chief of Staffs and Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force officially closed the Air Force Memorial commemoration weekend with a wreath laying ceremony in Arlington, Va., Oct. 15, 2006. On behalf of all American citizens President George W. Bush accepted the Air Force Memorial from Air Force Memorial Foundation Chairman Ross Perot Jr. during the previous day's dedication ceremony at the base of the Air Force Memorial that overlooks the Pentagon. Designed by the late James Ingo Freed the memorial with its three soaring spires inspired by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds bomb burst manuever, pays tribute to and honors the patriotic men and women of the U.S. Air Force and its predeccessor organizations. An open house was held near the Pentagon in conjunction with the dedication ceremony which featured performances by the U.S. Air Force Band, the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard drill team, and culminated with a concert featuring country music performer LeeAnn Womack. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cohen Young)