Memorial Day, A Day of Rememberance

05/26/2015 WESTMINSTER, Md. Members of the Civil Air Patrol, Carroll Composite Squadron, proudly continued the squadron’s annual tradition of participating in the Memorial Day parade in Westminster, Maryland. Cadets and senior members marched with a commitment to excellence in presentation, diligence in service to and reverence for those who gave so much for America.

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.

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.

The Carroll Composite Squadron meets 7 p.m. Tuesday evenings at the Hilltop Assembly of God Church Hall at 30 North Cranberry Road in Westminster, Maryland. Prospective cadets, ages 12-18, and their parents are always welcome. Adults seeking mentoring opportunities are invited as well. For more information, email carrollcomposite@gmail.com or visit www.carrollcap.org. You can also follow the Squadron on Facebook at www.facebook.com/capcarrollcomposite.

Honoring American Heroes. Carroll Cadets Participate in Memorial Day Parade. Article by: Capt. Lt Alice Raatjes, Public Affairs Officer, Carroll Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol. Photo Credits: 2ndLt Carol Scanlan & Capt A. Raatjes.