Musician and Lakota culture educator Sequoia Crosswhite performs during the Freedom 250 celebration at Mount Rushmore National Memorial near Keystone, South Dakota, July 3, 2026. The performance was one of several cultural and musical elements included in the evening program commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Luke Olson)
CAMERA
ILCE-7M4
LENS
E 35-150mm F2.0-F2.8 A058
APERTURE
32/10
SHUTTERSPEED
1/640
ISO
100
No camera details available.
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These images tell the story of a force forged in the pursuit of freedom. Across the decades captured here, Airmen have carried the nation's cause through open skies, into orbit, and across the digital frontier. Each frame is a glimpse of the dedication, courage, and skill that have defined the Department of the Air Force, from the propeller-driven pioneers of the Army Air Corps to the fifth-generation fighters and space capabilities of today. As America turns 250, this gallery honors the people and moments that have kept the promise of freedom flying.