The tradition of the "Class Painting" created for graduating classes started as a two degree committee project over 25 years ago. The first artist chosen for this honor was Mr. Richard Broome of Colorado Springs. We are honored to have Mr. Broome paint the Class of 1999's Official Class Painting as well. Our class is a proud class, and we wanted to show both our heritage and our hope in this painting.

Six aircraft fly over the Academy at sunrise. The sunrise represents our future, for we will all be entering active duty at the dawn of a new millennium. The sun is low, and in the shadows fly three aircraft: the B-47 Stratojet, the C-47 Gooney Bird, and the F-5 (P-38 Lightning). This is our past, our heritage. The Class of 1959, the first gold class, entered the service and flew these planes. The F-5 was there at the birth of our Air Force. What better way to show our thanks and pride than to join them in flight over the Academy?

Higher in the sky the 'golden' rays of the sun illuminate three other aircraft: the B-2 Spirit, the C-17 Globemaster III, and the F-22 Raptor. These are the aircraft the we will fly and support, and the rays of the sun illuminate them as we have been illuminated by over four years.

The golden rays of the sun may be the most striking colors on the canvas, but each class is represented with their own color. The mountains are blue, because we hope we have provided solid ground for the Class of 2000 to complete their journey. The Stratojet and Gooney Bird are silver, because our hope that we have inspired the Class of 2001 to aim high and push the envelope. The clouds are red to represent the dreams and aspirations of the incoming and outgoing classes who are entering new lives.

The fighter, bomber, and cargo aircraft from each era represent our proud heritage. The sunrise captures the essence of our hope and our potential. Colors from each class symbolize our unity, and the Academy reminds us of the struggles and sacrifices we had to make. As the golden rays of the sun shine in this painting, so shall the Class of 1999. 

All digital photographs Copyrighted Rick Broome 1998