We are happy to answer questions, but sometimes the answer has already been found. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions not addressed below.
Do I have to be an Air Advisor to participate in AAMF events?
What is a “Blue Star Family” vs. a “Gold Star Family”?
What is an Air Advisor?
Are there regular events that I can plan to happen consistently?
Why is the memorial shaped that way?
What do the coins mean?
Do I have to be an Air Advisor to participate in AAMF events?
- Not at all. The members of the Air Advisor Memorial Foundation believe that everyone should have the opportunity to honor the memories of these brave men and women who were lost in the line of duty. While many members are or were Air Advisors in their military careers, anyone is welcome to show their respect and appreciation by attending our events.
What is a “Blue Star Family” vs. a “Gold Star Family”?
- A Blue Star Family is one that has an immediate family member currently serving as an active duty service member: mothers, fathers, children, siblings.
- A Gold Star Family is one that has lost an immediate family member in the line of duty or military service: mothers, fathers, children, siblings. We believe that these families have earned a place of high honor and should be shown the utmost respect and appreciation.
What is an Air Advisor?
- An Air Advisor is an Airman who has been specially trained and educated to apply their technical expertise in order to assess, train, advise, assist, and equip foreign personnel in developing and applying resources to meet that partner nation’s needs in support of U.S. interests. These individuals have gone through rigorous training to earn the Air Advisor tabs they don on their uniforms. These warrior diplomats are pivotal in U.S. relations with partner nations, working by, with, and through these partners to achieve the overarching goals of the Department of Defense.
Are there regular events that I can plan to happen consistently?
- Yes! At least one annual rememberance ceremony is held by the AAMF, usually near the end of April, but the date can vary a bit from time to time. The AAMF conducts routine cleanings, landscaping, and general upkeep on the memorial itself at least quarterly (or sooner, as needed). We also have regular monthly meetings to discuss funding ideas to assist in the maintenance of the memorial as well as the status of requests to add service members to the memorial wall.
Why is the memorial shaped that way?
- The memorial was designed so that when viewed from above it resembles two A’s: Air Advisor. The walking path leading to the two A’s creates an arrow design, pointing the way home for Advisors lost in the line of duty. A sitting area facing the memorial gives visitors a moment for pause and reflection for these Advisors who made the ultimate sacrifice. A brick wall-fountain flows in the center of the memorial, much as the tears shed for those who have left us flow. Nine trees stand proudly with the memorial, representing the first nine Advisors lost in the 2011 attack, acting as sentries to protect our brothers- and sisters-in-arms from any further harm.
What do the coins mean?
- You may find coins placed on the names of the Advisors on the stone. This is a way to show the families of the deceased that visitors have come by to pay their respects to their loved ones. A tradition popularized during the Vietnam War, each coin has a specific meaning behind it:
- Penny – A penny left on the stone is to show someone visited the site where that person is being honored
- Nickel – A nickel is placed upon the marker by a person who attended basic training with the deceased
- Dime – A dime indicates that a person who served with the soldier has paid their respects
- Quarter – A quarter carries a heavy significance, representing a visit paid by someone who was present when the member was killed
AAMF 