Visiting the Air Force Cadet

Christopher Espinosa, 18, a standout 800-meter track and field runner from Albuquerque, N.M., always put attending the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the top of his list for colleges. After being accepted into the Academy and graduating high school, Christopher left Albuqueque in late June for basic training. Two months later, a sharp, lean and toned freshman cadet gets Labor Day weekend to spend time with his family and one friend.

Mother and little brother of Christopher, Angela and Ramiro (pictured waving), and one friend left Albuquerque Friday morning at 5 and arrived in Colorado Springs at 11:30 a.m.

After a quick tour of the Academy, Christopher was off for a cross-country meet at a park in the city. At the park, Angela, Ramiro and one friend passed time by taking pictures and the occasional Xtreme Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Preferring track over cross-country, Christopher participates in cross-country to prepare for the upcoming track season.

After finishing the 6-kilometer course in a timely manner.

On Saturday, everyone attended the Air Force vs. Nichols State football game. The game started with the parade of cadets.

Cadets running for their seats after yelling, "Run like hell!"

A parachute jumper brings in the American flag. The National Anthem was then performed by the Academy's drum and bugle corps which led the crowd to start a sacred, silent yet powerful sing-a-long.

F-15s coming from the south.

During home games, cadets exchange rank cuffs(?) with each other for a day to get certain privileges that younger cadets don't get.

The Air Force Falcons left Nichols State in the dust at half time with a 45-0 lead, so the rest of the game was spent hanging out on the walkway. Christopher with his father, Ramiro Sr.

The walk back to the vehicle led to some interesting reflection images. Air Force won the game, 72-0. Friend and Christopher pictured.

A lazy Sunday at the visitor's center.

Two brothers walking down the stairs.

Monday was the last day to spend with Christopher but it was also the last chance for Ramiro to collect some much needed leafs for his leaf project for biology, and for Christopher's friend to take pictures for a texture assignment, so the search for leafs and texture led to the park where Christopher had his cross-country meet.

Having taken the same biology class as Ramiro in high school, Christopher did the big brother thing and helped little Ramiro pick out his leafs.

After a heavy lunch and an almost food fight at Famous Dave's, it is time to make their way back to the Academy to drop off Christopher. "We still have time," says Angela to Christopher, and so he takes them up to his room. Christopher shares a room with a wrestler and a drummer, but he got lucky and gets to sleep on top of the single extra-long twin bed while the drummer sleeps on the bottom bunk and the wrestler chooses to sleep on the floor so as to not fix his bed. "I'm serious. I don't even sleep under the sheets. I sleep under that blanket." says Christopher. "We have to have the creases at 45 degrees and it takes me at least 10 minutes to fix it every morning. I don't know how he [the wrestler] sleeps on the floor every night."

A quick photo-opp with Christopher, Ramiro and a friend with the Chapel in the background.

There are 17 buttresses (?). One for God, 12 for the Apostles and four for the branches of military(?)

The Chapel can be seen from I-25.

The top portion of the Chapel is protestant. A picture of their organ in the balcony.

The bottom is portioned for Catholic, Jewish and Buddhism services.

Civilians may come and watch the parades the cadets perform but civilians may not go beyond the barrier.

Cadets call the overlook "The Zoo." "The food is okay. It's not that great though," says Christopher when asked about the food served.

It's almost four in the afternoon. Angela has work the next morning and it's a five to six hour drive back to Albuquerque. Saying "byes" are tough, so they postpone it by talking and sitting outside the Chapel.

"We'll see you when you come home for Thanksgiving," says Angela as she embraces her son while sniffling and trying to control her tears. After individual hugs and a group hug with Christopher, Chris walks back across the parking lot towards his room while his family and one friend get back into the vehicle to start the long drive back home.