Life at the academy
U.S. Air Force Academy cadets walk on the Terrazzo passing the 9-foot-tall statue of retired Brig. Gen. Robinson Risner in April at the academy. The statue was dedicated Nov 16, 2001, to honor General Risner and all prisoners of war. The statue was built 9-feet tall because, while a POW at the "Hanoi Hilton" during the Vietnam War, General Risner led a forbidden church service complete with hymns, and as he was led away to solitary confinement, his fellow POW's sang "The Star Spangled Banner." The general said at that moment, pride in his men made him "feel 9-feet tall and as though he could have gone bear hunting with a switch." (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)