COLORADO SPRINGS – 600 free tickets were made available this morning to the upcoming US Air Force Academy graduation featuring a speech by President Donald Trump. All of the tickets were gone in less than 10 minutes.
People lined up around the block outside the Colorado Springs Chamber for the 400 available tickets. Many people were disappointed to find all of the free tickets were snatched up. Other, weren’t surprised.
Commencement speakers for the service academy graduation rotate between the President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Air Force.
A maximum of four tickets were available to each person on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The 2019 U.S. Air Force Academy graduation is Thursday, May 30th, so here is everything you need to know before the big day.
The graduation ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Falcon Stadium. Stadium gates will open at 7:30 a.m. Early arrivals are highly suggested because of increased security because President Trump will deliver the commencement address.
Here is the tentative list of graduation events. Some times and venues may change because of security, weather or other circumstances. Any changes to the schedule will be listed here.
Sunday, May 19:
- USAFA Preparatory School Baccalaureate Service at the Community Chapel from 3:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Monday, May 20:
- USAFA Preparatory School Parade at Black Memorial Field from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
- USAFA Preparatory School Graduation Ceremony at the Arnold Hall Theater from 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- USAFA Preparatory School Graduation Reception at the Arnold Hall Ballroom from 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 22:
- 94 FTS Soaring G-Wings Ceremony and Social at the Falcon Club from 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 23:
- Bluebards Performance of “The Music Man” (open to the public; no tickets required) at Arnold Hall Theater from 7:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Friday, May 24:
- CW Graduation Ceremony Briefing (announcement of top graduates) at Fairchild Hall, F-1 from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
- Muslim Baccalaureate Service at Muslim Cade Chapel from 11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
- Ring Dining Out (Second-Class cadets and their guest only; tickets required) at Mitchell Hall from 6:00 p.m.-8 p.m.
- Ring Dance (Second-Class cadets and their guest only; tickets required) at Arnold Hall Ballroom from 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 25:
- Commandant’s Fiancée Reception (guests must be escorted by their cadet) at Polaris Hall from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 26:
Baccalaureate Services (optional) at the Cadet Chapel:
- 8:00 a.m.- 9:15 a.m. Catholic Mass, Squadrons 1-20
- 10:00 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Catholic Mass, Squadrons 21-40
- 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Orthodox Christian, all Squadrons
- 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Protestant Service, all Squadrons
- 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Jewish Service, all Squadrons
- 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Buddhist Service, all Squadrons
- 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Latter-Day Saints Service, all Squadrons
Bluebards Performance of “The Music Man” (open to the public; no tickets required) at Arnold Hall Theater from 7:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Monday, May 27:
- Bluebards Performance of “The Music Man” (open to the public; no tickets required) at Arnold Hall Theater from 7:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 28:
- Graduation Tapping Ceremony (by invitation to honored cadets and their guests) at Arnold Hall Ballroom from 8:00 a.m.-9:15 a.m.
- Graduation Awards Ceremony at Clune Arean from 10 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
- Graduation Awards Reception (donors, presenters, cadets awards winners and their guests) at the Hall of Excellence from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Mission Element Award Ceremonies-Times and location vary:
- Academic Department Award Ceremonies
- Wings of Blue Awards & “Blue Suit” Ceremony/Social-USAFA Airfield
- AD Awards Ceremony/Reception-Clune/Hall of Excellence
- Schulte Award Ceremony-Polaris Hall Forum
Academy Scholars Program Ceremony (by invitation to honored cadets and their guests) at Fairchild Hall, F-1 from 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Graduation Concert: Cadet Chorale, Orchestra, Schola, and In the Stairwell (no tickets required) at Arnold Hall Theater from 7:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 29:
- Cadet Aerial and Cadet Honor Guard Demonstration at Stillman Field from 7:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
- Graduation Parade (food options available after Arnold Hall food court and food trucks) at Stillman Field from 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
- Graduation Reception (tickets required) at Mitchell Hall from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
- Commissioning Ceremonies (guests must be escorted by their cadet) Locations vary:
1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m-6:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 30:
- Pre-Grad Reception (by invitation only) at Falcon Stadium Press Box from 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
- Graduation Ceremony and Thunderbirds (tickets required; stadium gates open at 7:30 a.m.) at Falcon Stadium from 10:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
- AF Academy Foundation Cadet Leadership Reception (by invitation only) at The Carlton House from 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Parking and Shuttles:
Parking for events in or near the Cadet Area is at the Field House, Reservoir and Parade Field Parking Lots. Please make sure to park in designated parking spaces, violators may be ticketed or towed at the owner’s expense.
Shuttle bus service will operate from the visitor parking lots on Wednesday before the Graduation Parade. Bus stops are clearly marked with signs and benches. Shuttle bus service will not be available on Graduation Day; all ceremony parking is at Falcon Stadium. Click here for shuttle service maps.
