An emotionally powerful composition, the memorial honors those in the Air Force who have given their lives in defense of the Unites States. The design, selected through a competition, organizes a meaningful sequence of experiences as visitors move through the landscape to the climactic central plaza with its contrail-inspired sculptural ensemble. The memorial site is adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, with views to, and from, the monumental core of Washington, DC. OLIN’s design accommodates places for solitude and reflection, as well as places for gathering and celebration. A series of thresholds marked by a change in tree species define these spaces along the visitor’s route. An allée of London plane trees leads to the memorial entrance. Here, visitors first glimpse the three soaring stainless steel spires of the memorial’s central feature piercing the sky above the treetops. Next, a grove of oaks distinguishes the boundary of the parade grounds and provides shade for the review stand. Closer to the inner sanctum, towering tulip poplars, with their consistently straight trunks, emulate temple columns, lending both form and stature to the reverential character of the space. Trees are absent at the main plaza—the landscape opens to the overlook, from which the sculpture rises. As a final gesture, cherry trees cascade down the hillside toward the downtown area.
