Photo of the Week: Honoring Those Who Serve

Aviation and the military have a long, intertwined history. It’s no wonder the industry expresses such tremendous appreciation and gratitude for the armed forces and military veterans.

To honor Memorial Day and our military, we’re showcasing Alaska Airlines and their “Honoring Those Who Serve” livery, captured by Ti Li at Seattle Tacoma International Airport.

The livery, first unveiled in 2016 on a Boeing 737-900ER, “is dedicated to the brave men and women of the US military, as well as veterans of the armed forces and their families,” according to Alaska’s website.

Its design was first conceived by a small group of Alaska maintenance technicians who sought to promote pride, remembrance and appreciation. The livery was painted onto the plane in partnership with Boeing.

Design elements of the American flag are incorporated onto the winglets, and the fuselage features a red stripe bordering the white and blue body. Toward the boarding door, a crest signifying Alaska’s Fallen Soldier Program contains five stars representing the traditional branches of the armed services: Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

Additionally, the plane features a quote from President Calvin Coolidge near the rear cargo door: “No person was ever honored for what they received. Honor has been the reward for what they gave.”

Since its unveiling, Alaska Airlines has added two more aircraft in the Honoring Those Who Serve livery—a Boeing 737-800 model and an Embraer 175 operated by regional subsidiary Horizon Air.

To all the families who have lost Marines, sailors, soldiers, airmen, or guardsmen, thank you for your sacrifice—we honor the memories of your beloved heroes.

And thank you, Ti Li, for sharing with us this amazing photo.

Our readers continue to pass along shots of unique aircraft, international airports, historical events, gorgeous views and even family vacation photos for this feature. We love them! Keep them coming—you can click here for submission guidelines.