Good morning. I stand before you humbled and honored. I am the daughter of Andrew William Biancur. In my eyes he was not only a father but an hero. He lived by a code of honor he learned and embraced here at the Air Force Academy. Growing up in a military family, moving 15 times before graduating from high school and assimilating into military or civilian societies, our family was guided by the core values of honor, integrity and service. My father, a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in 1960, embodied the oath for which he took upon graduation. "We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does." (USAFA, 2020) Therefore, our family was also held to the same standards. This code is a core thread in all aspects of our lives including honor, integrity and unconditional love. He defined honor is doing the right thing all the time. Honesty and accountability are at the root of this value. He embodied honor and instilled it in everything he did. Integrity as he often defined it as the quality of being honest, respecting all people and having strong moral principles (Oxford Dictionary, nd). Former football coach Tony Dungy, defines integrity "the choice between what's convenient and what's right." (Dungy,2006). He was definitely a man of integrity, never taking the convenient or easy path but the right path. So when asked to celebrate his life, we are celebrating a man of honor, integrity, humility in his service to our country and to us. I, my brother Christian and Carole are his immediate family and to honor my father is to honor all of you as a family, sharing these common threads. He loved all of you as deeply as he loved us.

I will be honest, I was not always happy to share him with the Air Force, but if you knew him you knew how passionately he loved to fly, celebrate his brothers in blue, as much as he loved being a father and husband. I was born on September 18th, coincidently the Air Force's anniversary. Yes, I was destined to share this day with my father at academy football games, air shows and alumni celebrations. He was so proud and excited to take us to these events that I couldn't help but think the Air Force was actually celebrating my birthday too. He was proud of what it meant to be a part of the Air Force and so proud to share this pride with us. His military life was a life of service and sacrifice but he always made sure he was there for us no matter how far he was or how long he was gone. I recently found a letter he wrote to me on a tour to Vietnam. Evidently I was not speaking to him because I was mad that he had left and been gone for such a long period of time. He said in the letter, very apologetically, that he was sorry he had to leave but he had to help people who needed to be protected. And that even if he was not there… if I needed him I should wrap my arms around my chest like a hug and say "Dad" and he would be there. I might not be able to see him or hug him but he would be with me. Typical Andi, having me find this letter right after his passing, letting me know he is still watching and listening. I find solace in knowing with a hug and a word, my father and I will always be together.

His unconditional devotion to the Air Force and his family transcended his active duty career. He never spoke of his accomplishments or heroic actions….except in bullet points in his writings. If I asked him about a particular commendation or military action, He would say he was just doing his job or point to a book in his den and say it's all in those books, if you really want to know… go read them. I read every book in his den. He was the only man I knew who could receive a medal or commendation and a reprimand for the same military action. Obviously he was a risk taker but the successful outcomes far outweighed the risks. Pretty commendable in my eyes.

I could tell you stories of how we lived as a family, the poor man was tested daily by us growing up but in the end, we lived to make him proud. He would tell me, "You will fail, but when you fail, take it as a challenge. Don't let the failure define you…. Beat it and define it as success." And then he'd say "By the way… second place is first loser." Hence, the ultra-competitive side of our family was ignited.

My father had two incredible lives. A decorated military career and an extremely happy and fulfilling retirement life. His first love, the Air Force and my mother Joan, His second love was Carole. Carole thank you for loving him and sharing with him all the happiness in retirement. He loved to travel, he loved being a member of your family but most of all he loved you . . . unconditionally. Thank you for allowing him to love life after the military.

I am forever grateful and proud to be the daughter of Andrew William Biancur. I learned and live the core values he embodied of honor, integrity and unconditional love. In his passing we have lost an incredible man and father but to honor him is to celebrate his life and try to continue on honorably, passing on his legacy. I hope that I have and continue to make him proud . . . .

Thank you for attending and loving him for the man he was.