AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.-
Only about 100 people have picked up free tickets so far to see Defense Secretary Robert Gates speak at the Air Force Academy graduation on May 30.
The tickets have been available for more than a week at the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. When presidents are invited as graduation speakers, all available tickets are gone within hours.
President Bush spoke at graduation at Falcon Stadium three years ago followed by Vice President Dick Cheney in 2005. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld spoke last year and drew a smaller crowd than Bush did.
Academy officials said the tickets haven’t been advertised well.
“Ticket demand has been lower than expected, but the public really didn’t know tickets were available,” academy spokesman John Van Winkle said.
The Air Force’s Thunderbirds aerial stunt team will also participate in commencement exercises, flying over Falcon Stadium after graduates toss their hats.
