Ft. McHenry Squadron Celebrates 15 Year Anniversary

October 2015. Linthicum, Md. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP), Fort McHenry squadron of the Maryland Wing celebrated the anniversary of its 15th year of operation on October 30, 2015. Squadron members, family and friends joined former commanders for an evening of recognition and reminisce. The event was held at the American Legion Dewey Loman Post #190 in Linthicum, Maryland. The anniversary celebration included an awards ceremony which was preceded by a banquet and acknowledgement of special guests. Former Fort McHenry squadron commanders that attended the event included Maj Douglas Barth (commander Feb 2002 – Aug 2006); Maj Karen Walker (commander Aug 2006 – Feb 2008) and Maj Don Ells, current Maryland Wing, Group II commander and former squadron commander Sept 2008 – Sept 2011. Lt Col Sherry McMannus, MDWG Administrator and Lt Col Scott B. Harris, Group III Commander also attended the event.

In his opening remarks, Lt Col Steven Hollis, squadron commander, welcomed guests, “The anniversary that we celebrate today acknowledges our successes, our members’ achievements, provides us the opportunity to reminisce about the history of our squadron and to lay the groundwork for our future.” The program also included cadet promotions and specialty awards. Cadet/2nd Lt Audrey G. Hollis was awarded the Billy Mitchell Award. This first milestone of the Cadet Program is earned after the completion of the first eight achievements of the cadet program and is accompanied by the promotion to the grade of Cadet Second Lieutenant. Other cadets recognized for promotions were C/2nd Lt Audrey G. Hollis, C/Amn Paul A. Skidmore and C/Amn Mervyn D. Thomas-Crawford.

The following cadets and senior members were recognized by the Fort McHenry command staff for special awards.
Warrior Cadet – C/A1C Josias Fennema
Cadet Airman of the Year – C/Amn Chris Barnabae
Cadet NCO of the Year – C/CMsgt Audrey G. Hollis
Cadet of the Year – C/CMSgt Timothy A. Seidell
Torch Award – Maj Andrew Wortman
Senior Member of the Year – Maj Charles Frater.

Fort McHenry squadron is active in their community supporting several venues and collaborating with partners including, in part, the Howard County Fair Family Day program, the Maryland Air National Guard, participating in the Arbutus Volunteer Firemen’s’ and National American Legion Parade, and participating in various CAP Maryland Wing sponsored events and training activities. Recently, Maj Charles Frater, Fort McHenry’s Deputy Commander, participated as a member of the MDWG response team for disaster support to South Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Joaquin.

The Fort McHenry squadron all-volunteer membership includes 16 seniors and 22 cadets many of whom have participated in training for search-and-rescue operations, first aid, CPR, urban direction finding, airborne scanning, cadet orientation flights and mission qualification exercises.

Civil Air Patrol develops character and advances education. While many volunteer organizations perform activities, our members complete missions for federal, state and local agencies and mentor future generals of leaders. Our actions restore hope, rebuild communities and save lives. Young men and women can expect to be challenged and will be rewarded with the confidence, self-worth and accomplishment that can only come from rising to the occasion and making a real and measurable difference when called upon.

The Fort McHenry Squadron meets weekly on Wednesdays from 7 – 9 PM at the American Legion Post 109, 1610 Old Sulphur Spring Road, Arbutus, MD 21227. Prospective cadets, ages 12 to 18 and their parents are always welcome. Adults seeking volunteer opportunities are invited as well. Visit the squadron’s website at http://www.ftmchenrycap.org/.

Nearly 1,600 CAP members serve in Maryland. Last year wing members flew 13 search and rescue missions. The wing was credited with four finds. Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland. Members flew 2,245 hours in all mission categories. Volunteers contributed services estimated at 4.6 million dollars. For more information, contact the Maryland Wing at www.mdcap.org or follow the wing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarylandWingCivilAirPatrol.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 58,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs about 85 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 70 lives annually. Its unpaid professionals also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. Performing missions for America for the past 73 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.

Article by: Alice Raatjes, Capt, Public Affairs Officer, Group II Maryland Wing with contributions from James Steinmeier, LtCol, Deputy Commander for Cadets, Fort McHenry Squadron. Photo credit: Fort McHenry Composite Squadron.

Photos represent Ft. McHenry squadron within their community and taken at the Squadron Anniversary Celebration. Pictured are senior and cadet members including past and current commanders.