The images in this painting symbolize the evolution of the military mission in the Los Angeles area from the early 20th century to the early 21st century. At bottom is a 14-inch railway gun, the most modern armament of its day, being prepared by the Army for firing from Fort MacAuthur in 1936. In 1979, the Army turned Fort MacAurthur over to the Air Force. The rocket at right is a Thor Able launch vehicle, developed by the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division for the earliest millitary space missions in 1958. At left is an Atlas V launch vehicle, one of the newest and most powerful rockets developed by th Air Force's Space and missile Systems Center for Military space missions in the 2st century.
