North Central Region - Jan 2009

8/7/2019 North Central Region - Jan 2009

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NCR News January 2009 Page 1

“Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond” North Central Region News Volume 2009 January

A Missouri Wing Cadet renders honors during the Wreath’s Across America event on December 13th

On December 13th 2008, Civil Air Patrol members across the nation took their Saturday morningto honor the nation’s deceased war veterans by laying wreaths at cemeteries in their localcommunities. This issue of NCR News has coverage of some of the events starting on Page 7.

In this Issue

• Wreath’s Across America coverage starts on page 7

• Kansas Squadron Change of Command

• Stories of Individual Excellence

• And MUCH MORE!!!!!




Commander’s ColumnCol Steve KuddesCommander, North Central Region

I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to continueyour outstanding service to your communities and the nation.

I just have a short update for you on the Region Conference. We have changed

the date from the first weekend in October to the last weekend in October. Thenew dates are Friday 30 October 2009 to Sunday 1 November 2009.

It will be in Des Moines, IA and as details are confirmed we will get the word outto you as soon as possible.

Our Air Force Liaison personnel may or may not have their budget approved in time for the first weekend. It isalways a pleasure and our desire to have them participate with us. I believe it is of the utmost importance we haveour Liaison team and State Directors there also.

Friday night will be our social and registration. Saturday will be the conference and dinner. Sunday will be NCRstaff meeting. Wing commanders are required to be in attendance Saturday but attendance Sunday for the NCRstaff meeting is optional.

With our dinner on Halloween night.....who knows what might happen?

The region staff have several exciting events planned for this year including the Cadet Competition, Region StaffCollege, PAO Academy and the Region Cadet Encampment. Watch your e-mail, the region website/calendar andNCR News for information on these activities.

Legal Officers Recognized

At their January staff meeting, Minnesota Wing Commander, Col Tom Theis presented National Commander’s

Commendation Awards to (l) Minnesota Wing Legal Officer Lt Col Kevin Dunlevyand (r) Group 3 Legal Officer Lt Col Jim Garlough for their work in the CAP Legal Officer’s Corps.

North Central Region News is published monthly by the North Central Region, Civil Air Patrol

Col. Steve Kuddes, Region Commander Maj. Al Pabon, Director of Public Affairs

Please send submissions by the 10th of each month to: [email protected]




Kansas squadron celebrates achievements and change of commandMajor Dan MetcalfPublic Affairs Officer, Kansas City Composite Squadron

On December 15th

the Kansas City Composite Squadron held its semi-annual Award Ceremony, combined with aChange of Command ceremony.

Capt Charles Wright, who has been commander since the squadron waschartered nearly three years ago has retired. He also got married, increasedhis family with three daughters and has moved with his new family to Texas.

Capt Wright has been an inspiration and asset to the squadron. He hasalways put his cadets and officers first, and worked for the improvement ofthem and the squadron. Not only was he the commander, but their friend.He will be greatly missed.

Col Regina Aye, Kansas Wing Commander, conducted the transfer ofcommand ceremony and swore in Capt Catherine Metcalf as the newcommander.

In her remarks Capt Metcalf said that "I look forward to the new year of 2009with our officer staff, cadet staff and parents. You will see some newchanges to the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program, Kansas Wing and the KansasCity Composite Squadron. We will be experiencing the learning, sharing,working and having fun in 2009. Together, we will work as a team for thegood of our squadron, cadets, Kansas wing and Civil Air Patrol."

Col Aye presented Commander’s Commendation Awards to CaptCatherine Metcalf, Maj Dan Metcalf, C/Col Daniel Metcalf, 1st LtByron Edmondson and 2d Lt William James.

Civil Air Patrol Achievement Awards were presented to to Capt

Alan Simon, Capt Dennis Thompson, Capt Karen Bork, 1st LtSally Willson, 2d Lt Marlene Ahlgren, 2d Lt Daniel Chaverin, and2d Lt James Newbill.

Cadet awards included the Wright Brothers Award to CadetsNathanial Chaverin, Samuel Chaverin, Maverick Moore, ThomasMartin and Jonathan James. The Mary Feik Achievement wasalso presented to Nathanial and Samuel Chaverin.

Dinner was provided by the parents. Kansas Wing State DirectorRichard Almeida, Air Force Officers Representative Lt Col ScottHarvey, and Bayer Corp representative Deborah Waller werealso in attendance.

Kansas City Composite Squadron will be celebrating its 3rd Anniversary 12 January 08. It is comprised of over 30cadets and 20 officers, of which 20 members joined in the last year. The squadron serves the greater Kansas Cityarea, with members from Weston and Gladstone Mo, Leavenworth, Lawrence, in addition to Olathe and KansasCity.

The squadron has supported many community and national activities, including Wreaths Across America. Thesquadron will be hosting a Search and Rescue activity in April that will include county and city first responders,along with the Kansas Wing.

Kansas Wing Commander, Col Regena Ayehands the squadron flag to Capt Catherine

Metcalf at the change of commandceremony.

Cadet 2d Lt Grant Collison received the Gen Billy MitchellAward from Shawnee, KS Mayor Jeff Meyers




Two Minnesota youths admitted to Civic Leadership AcademyCapt Richard SprousePublic Affairs Officer, Group 2, Minnesota Wing

Two Civil Air Patrol cadets from Minnesota are among the 24 youths nation-wide who have won admittance to theCivil Air Patrol’s Civic Leadership Academy, February 21-28, 2009, in Washington DC.

Cadet Colonel Charlie Cox is a sophomore at the University of St. Thomas majoring in

political science. Cadet First Lieutenant Katherine Jones is a freshman at the Collegeof St. Catherine majoring in nursing. Both are also Army ROTC cadets through theUniversity of Minnesota.

Cadet Cox, 19, is from Edina, and has been a CAP cadet since 2003. He’s among the1 percent of CAP cadets nationally to earn the organization’s Spaatz Award, the topcadet honor. Cox is also the 2007 Minnesota Wing Cadet of the Year. He says he’sreally looking forward to the academy.

“Being a political science major in college, I'm thrilled to have this opportunity,” Coxsaid. “It will be another great experience for me thanks to Civil Air Patrol.”

Cadet Jones, 18, is originally from Ogilvie, Minn., but has been living in Florida thepast 10 years. She returned here to attend college. A CAP member since 2004, shefeels that all cadets, whether they are in middle school, high school, or college shouldbe paying attention to politics and the effect that the process of government has ontheir everyday lives.

“To me, Civic Leadership Academy is a unique opportunity to expand my textbookknowledge of government and politics to a concrete experience that I will be able tointegrate into my future career, “ Jones said. “I am very fortunate to have beenselected to attend Civic Leadership Academy and am looking forward to theopportunity to immerse myself in Washington DC with other cadets from around thenation.”

In February, Cox and Jones will discuss international affairs with foreign service officers at the State Department,learn about the legislative process in meetings with Congressional staff on Capitol Hill, study the judiciary with legalscholars at the Supreme Court, and more. The academy culminates with the cadets scheduled to visitRepresentatives John Kline and Betty McCollum of Minnesota to deliver Civil Air Patrol’s Annual Report toCongress.

Minnesota CAP leaders are not surprised that Cox and Jones were selected for the prestigious academy.

“They’re both tremendous young leaders, and great role models for our younger cadets,” said Colonel Tom Theis,Minnesota Wing CAP commander.

As CAP cadets, Cox and Jones have been developing leadership skills since they first joined the organization. “Thecivic academy takes that training further by giving youth a behind-the-scenes look at our federal government and achance to explore public service careers,” according to Curt LaFond of CAP’s National Headquarters.

Photos from this issue of NCR News are available fordownload at the NCR Photo Album hosted at the Region

PAO’s Resources and Training Website:

C/Col Charlie Cox

C/1st Lt Katherine Jones




Member overcomes challenges to earn Yeager Award.By 2d Lt. Erik LindquistPublic Affairs Officer, Viking Squadron, Minnesota Wing

It always seems that when we start to talk aboutpersonal disabilities, there is a hesitation to hold anymeaningful discussions. Today’s environment ofpolitical correctness has muffled our ability to start or

maintain meaningful discussions in fear that we maysay something perceived as offensive.

This lack of conversation robs us all of who we are ashuman beings by assuming negative intent, andcreates gaps in our true understanding of ourselvesas individuals. Knowing our limitations and strengthshelps us all work together to achieve greatness.

As human beings we seem to always want toassociate our challenges with the physical challengeof climbing mountains. It seems to be a visualizationthat we all recognize as obtaining satisfaction orachievement.

I recently had the great opportunity to talk openly witha friend from Viking squadron who has faced physicalchallenges all his life. He has provided a substantialcontribution to CAP through his years of service.

1st Lt Matthew Stepaniak proudly receives his YeagerAward from Viking Squadron Commander Major Brent

Halweg.

1st Lt. Matthew Stepaniak has had a lifetime of

physical limiting challenges. Being born with cerebralpalsy, Matthew has been challenged to get aroundwith a motorized wheelchair.

His strong will and character has helped him to adaptto his situation, and to succeed greatly in all that hehas chosen to do. He has always worked for hissuccesses with nothing being handed to him.

At age 19 he became very interested in HAM radios,and devoted much of his time to public safetycommunications for Hennepin County. Hisknowledge of radio equipment and radio networks

has grown immensely since then, and has made himan expert in the field of communications.

Matthew has also been involved with the SalvationArmy Emergency Disaster Service. He hasvolunteered to go out in a UHF repeater emergencycanteen whenever disasters such as explosions,plane crashes, building collapses, floods, extremeweather events, or any other type of event orincident, which endangers life and or severelyinconveniences the public have occurred.

It is no surprise that his communication skills weremeant to serve with the Civil Air Patrol. Matthew

joined CAP in 2004 and as a new senior member hetook on the task of assistant communications officerfor the squadron.

His limitations to physical travel were overcome bysetting up CAP radio equipment at his home as abase backup. This has allowed him to easily serveCAP as a devoted radioman. Every Friday night hehas held the Minnesota Wing FM Net, which is agreat tool that provides a comfort level of trainingradio communications between wing and itssquadron members.

He has naturally had some frustrations throughout hislife (as we all have), but he has been able to get overthem and stay focused on communications and itsimportance. He continues to be available on call forany activity that requires his services. Hiscontributions to CAP radio communication trainingare priceless.

In 2008 National HQ and Viking squadronencouraged all Officers to accomplish therequirements for the Charles E. ‘Chuck’ YeagerAerospace Education Achievement Award. ForMatthew this was a daunting request, because he

can’t see a textbook perceptually. He has no visualperception of images, which makes written learningalmost impossible for him.

Continued on Page 6




Stepaniak Continued

His best method of learning is audible or verbally.This requirement worried Matthew, but when Vikingsquadron aerospace education officer Capt. DavidCoates approached Matthew, he quickly saw theproblem and formed a solution that would work forMatthew.

The request for squadron support came for membersto contribute time to read and verbally record eachchapter of the study book. Within a matter of minutesthe sign-up sheet was filled with volunteers.

Over a period of months, Matthew had listened to allthe chapters that had been recorded, and it was timeto take the test. He was read each question, and heverbally provided his answers.

With assistance to help him input his answers to theonline quiz, 1

stLt Stepaniak of Viking Squadron

passed his Charles E. ‘Chuck’ Yeager AerospaceEducation Achievement test. This mountain hadbeen climbed and conquered, so now it is on to othermountains.

For Viking squadron it is the pride to see one of its

members succeed on a personal level, and we allgain strength from the experience.

We should remember to give tribute to the greatcontributions of many of our CAP members thatstruggle daily with challenges, yet still rise to the callof service and duty. Their focus, confidence, andpurpose of life should give us all inspiration tocontinue to do our best as an organization.

We can all feel proud of our team.

Saving Lives from the Air Krystle Kacner

KDLT TV, Sioux Falls, SD

When people go missing in South Dakota, it's up to a group of well-trained volunteers to find them. For those people, today was training day,going through scenarios of missing people, missing aircrafts, ordisasters; as if it was reality.

Today, it's just a drill; but this practice makes a difference when there arelives on the line.

George Colombe, Civil Air Patrol says, "Basically what you do is find outwhat you're doing wrong, and make sure that you get all your procedures

down and your doing everything correctly."

Several times a year the civil air patrol has training missions where theypractice for real life scenarios where they have to take planes like this upto look for missing people or missing aircrafts.

Colombe has seen his share of real scenarios. "For missing aircrafts and missing persons." Colombe said.

For today's training mission, he is the incident commander, overseeing the ground team and the aircraft outsearching, and the team working at home base. "This particular mission we're looking for a missing aircraft and wealso have another scenario where we're looking for a missing person." Said Colombe.

The hardest part of his job is keeping it all together. Colombe said that, "to keep everybody focused on what needsto be done to get the mission completed safely."

Colombe, like all members of the civil air patrol is a volunteer, giving his time and money for things like certificationsso he can help in times of need... "It's important to be able to go out and say you've saved somebody's life or thatyou've found somebody that's lost." Said Colombe.

A fulfillment, Colombe says, that is hard to come by anywhere else. Members of the Civil Air Patrol are anywherefrom 12 to 99 years old; and with day jobs of anything from teachers and doctors, to students.




This feature looks at the Wreaths Across America events that were held in several of thewings of North Central Region

MISSOURI WING

For the third year in a row, Missouri Wing’s Group 2hosted the annual Wreaths Across Americaceremony at Jefferson Barracks National Cemeteryon December 13, 2008.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is the nation’ssecond largest veteran’s cemetery after ArlingtonNational Cemetery.

More than 120 members of the general public, PatriotGuard Riders, and Civil Air Patrol members fromGroups II and IV braved a cold and windy day to helpplace more than 1,100 holiday wreaths in honor ofthose who gave their lives in service for our country,as well as those who have served and are serving inour nation’s armed forces.

In addition, seven specially made wreathsrepresenting the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force,Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and POW/MIA werepresented during a short ceremony.

The event began with a flyover by a Civil Air PatrolCessna aircraft piloted by Capt. Brian Thompson,Group II Operations Officer, sharply at 11 a.m. tocoincide with the beginning of the national program atArlington National Cemetery and the simultaneousstart of all ceremonies across the nation in over 350state and federal veteran’s cemeteries. The eventconcluded with the powerful rendition of Taps by abugler.

“The freedoms that we enjoytoday have not come without aprice” said Maj. David Miller,Group II commander andcoordinator of the ceremony.“Lying here before us and incemeteries throughout thisnation are men and womenwho gave their lives so thatwe can live in freedom andwithout fear”

At the end of the ceremony, the Army wreath waspresented to the family of James Amelung in memoryof his two brothers PFC Melvin O. Amelung and PFCVernon A. Amelung. Both served in the EuropeanTheater in WWII. Melvin Amelung served in GeneralPatton’s 3rd Army and fought in three major battlesincluding the Battle of the Bulge, and assisted inliberating the concentration camp at Ohrdruf, MelvinAmelung is buried in Belleville, Illinois

The Army wreath will be placed at the gravesite ofVernon Amelung, an Army Engineer in France during

WWII who is buried at Jefferson Barracks. Thiswreath represents not only the Army, but also abrother’s journey of honoring and preserving hisbrothers military legacy.

Continued on Page 8




Wreaths continued from page 7

The Navy wreath was presented to the family ofHospital Corpsman Second Class Donald LeeHenderson. Donald Henderson enlisted in the Navyand served stateside in Oakland, California, duringthe Korean War.

He passed on to his children and grandchildren hisvast knowledge and facts about the Navy and theKorean War, encouraging them to never forget oroverlook this conflict as sometimes is done inhistory.

However, the number one fact he kept in his heart,and mentioned often, were the 919 soldiers fromMissouri & from all branches of the armed serviceswho lost their lives during the Korean War.

Henderson passed away in 2004 and is buried at

Jefferson Barracks. The wreath was presented afterthe ceremony to his wife, Joyce Henderson.

The Marine Corps wreath was presented to the familyof Corporal Walter Wozniak, Sr., who served duringWWII.

The wreath was presented after the ceremony to hisgranddaughter, Sally Young.

The Air Force wreath honors the memory of 1st Lt.Michael Blassie, a graduate of St. Louis UniversityHigh School and a 1970 graduate of the U.S. AirForce Academy, who was shot down over An Loc onMay 11, 1972 as a member of the 8th SpecialOperations Squadron.

From 1984 to 1998, his remains were buried inArlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of theUnknowns as an unidentified soldier from theVietnam War.

His remains were identified in 1998 and werereinterred at Jefferson Barracks. The wreath wasplaced after the ceremony at 1st Lt. Blassie’sgravesite in a brief but solemn presentation.

The Coast Guard wreath honors the memory of BillyRice, former Command Pilot and Flotilla 7Commander of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and arecipient of the U.S. Coast Guard Award of Merit,with Operational Distinguishing Device for his workduring the 1993 Missouri floods.

This is the highest award the Coast Guard canpresent to a non-enlisted individual. Billy Rice alsoenlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Warand served as a member of the Civil Air Patrol formany years.

The wreath was presented after this ceremony to his

wife, Carolyn Rice.

The POW/MIA wreath was presented to PatriotGuard Ride Captain, Bill Hunt, in memory of the93,852 United States servicemen from all branchesof the service whose last know status was eitherPrisoners of War or Missing in Action.

Continued on Page 9




Wreaths continued from Page 8

These individuals have never returned to theirfamilies and homes and shall not be forgotten.

Finally, the Merchant Marine wreath was laid at theMerchant Marines memorial site at JeffersonBarracks after the ceremony.

“This was the first year that Group II units participatedin wreath sponsorships and we were, frankly,overwhelmed by the success of the program.” saidMaj. Miller. “We were expecting approximately 300wreaths. We received almost four times thatamount.”

“I am especially grateful for the extraordinaryassistance provided by Capt. Jimmie Peyton,commander of the River City Composite Squadron,Capt. Tim Mohr, commander of the St. LouisComposite Squadron 1, and Lt. Col. Randy Fuller,commander of the Missouri Wing Legislative

Squadron. This year’s event could not have beensuccessful without their hard work.”

Members of the following squadrons participated: St.Louis Composite Squadron 1, St. Charles CompositeSquadron, River City Composite Squadron, GatewaySenior Squadron, Mid Rivers Senior Squadron,Pegasus Composite Squadron, Mineral AreaComposite Squadron, Group II headquarters,Missouri Wing Legislative Squadron, and theMissouri Wing headquarters.

SOUTH DAKOTA WING

HOT SPRINGS

The Crazy Horse Composite Squadron of the SDWing of Civil Air Patrol participated for the secondyear in the Wreaths Across America (WAA) programat the Hot Springs National Cemetery.

Cadets from Custer and Hot Springs, includingC/SSgt. Justin Bierwirth, C/MSgt Angelica Cachro,

C/2Lt Victoria Cachro, and C/SrA Thomas Mossman,along with Major Vicky Marking, 2Lt Duane Martinz,and Sponsor Kris Bierwirth.

Their role in the ceremony included distributing thespecial-made wreaths to the veterans designated torepresent the various branches:

Cindy Tschetter represented the Army, Bill Barlowrepresented the Navy, Bob “DOC’ Baty representedthe Marine Corps, Martin Mahrt represented the AirForce, David Fluck represented the Coast Guard,Keith Blume represented the Merchant Marines, andVirgil Kock represented the POW/MIA.

The ceremony began at 10:00 a.m. with one minuteof silence. 2d Lt Duane Martinez presented the sameWAA emotional speech that was being read acrossthe country that day.

In an excerpt specifically addressed to the youth whowere present, the script stated, “To our children, wewant you to understand that the freedoms you enjoytoday have not been free at all, but have come with acost that someday you may have to pay yourself. Asa nation standing together, we can defeat terrorism,hatred and injustice. Thanks to our veterans, wehave the freedom to do just that.”

Continued on Page 10




Wreaths Continued from Page 9

Despite chilly weather, each veteran and CAPmember stood vigilant at their place until theceremony’s completion without wavering from theirduty.

The wreaths were placed by the service

representatives one at a time to honor past veteransof each branch. The VFW Rifle Team then presenteda rifle salute followed the playing of “Taps” by BenHobbs of Pringle.

2d Lt Martinez suggested that each person attendingstroll around the cemetery, write the name of a fallenveteran, and research their past life to make theexperience more personal.

Participants and guests remarked that the ceremonywas exceptionally moving.

At the conclusion, 2d Lt Martinez and Major Markinginvited the audience to help distribute additionalwreaths that were purchased and donated by varioussponsors from Custer and Hot Springs and even fromTucson, Arizona.

SIOUX FALLS

Members of the Sioux Falls Composite Squadronparticipated in the annual Wreaths Across America,in Hills of Rest Cemetery, in Sioux Falls.

The squadrons' honor guard performed andpresented the colors at the opening ceremony.

Lt Col Tim Steppan was the host of the ceremonyand spoke about the dedication of our military andthe great sacrifices they make for our freedom.

During the event, the wreaths were presented, onefor each branch of the military, honoring those whohave paid the ultimate price.

Wreaths Across America is a nationwide event,honoring veterans on the holidays and to pay tributeto their service.

The Sioux Falls Squadron has participated in the

event for the last seven years.

Special thanks to Col Mike Beason,Col Tom Theis, Major Sean Johnson,

Major David Miller, Major Jim Kline, CaptRobin Helgager, Capt Richard Sprouse

and 1st Lt Lori Anderson for theircontributions to this feature.

NORTH DAKOTA WINGBy JENNY MICHAELBismarck Tribune

The Bismarck Composite Squadron didn't quite hit itsgoal of providing wreaths for 3,800 headstones at theNorth Dakota Veterans Cemetery, but it came close.

The wreaths, 2,583 of them, arrived Monday, Maj.Sean Johnson said. The squadron began a wreathsponsorship campaign in November with the goal ofraising enough money to have wreaths for each ofthe approximately 3,800 veterans and familymembers of veterans interred at the cemetery southof Mandan.

The project is part of "Wreaths Across America,"which began in 1992 when the Worcester Wreath Co.of Maine had excess wreaths as Christmas neared.Company president Morrill Worcester had visitedArlington National Cemetery as a child andremembered being moved by the experience. So, thewreaths were placed on headstones in an olderportion of the cemetery. Now, the program partnerswith the Civil Air Patrol and places wreaths atveterans cemeteries in every state.

"We could not be happier and more excited with thetremendous response we received from thecommunity," Johnson, who commands the BismarckComposite Squadron, said.






"So many people and organizations got behind thiseffort, and we are confident that it will be even biggernext holiday season."

The wreaths cost $15 each, meaning that the CAPraised $38,745.

MDU Resources Foundation, Basin ElectricCooperative, Fischer Sand and Gravel of Dickinsonand Butler Machinery of Fargo each put up $1,500 forcorporate sponsorships. KQDY-FM and Cash WiseFoods coordinated a live remote and sponsorshipdrop-off point for donations, which Johnson saidhelped generate a "tremendous response" to theproject. Other sponsorships came from smallbusinesses, families and individuals.

The 188th Family Readiness Group, associated withBattery A, 1st Battalion 188th Air Defense ArtilleryRegiment of the North Dakota Army National Guard,also raised more than $5,000 toward the effort,Johnson said.

Now that the wreaths have made it to North Dakota,Johnson and the CAP are focusing on Saturday'swreath laying ceremony.

Though the Bismarck CAP has participated inWreaths Across America ceremonies in 2006 and2007, this will be the first year wreaths will be placedat individual headstones. The wreath layingceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at theNorth Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Johnson said thepublic is welcome to attend and help place wreathsacross the cemetery.

The ceremony will be one of close to 300 wreathceremonies conducted simultaneously across thenation at veterans cemeteries.

It will take place outdoors on the flag plaza, soJohnson encourages people to dress appropriatelyfor the weather. The chapel at the cemetery will beopen during the event, but will be reserved for peoplewho shouldn't be exposed to winter conditions forvery long. The ceremony is expected to last about 20minutes.

Wreaths will be placed in three phases upon theconclusion of the ceremony, which will includeplacement of wreaths for each branch of the military.First, people who sponsored wreaths and want themto be placed on specific graves will go first. Next,CAP members and volunteers will lay out wreaths ongraves for people who sponsored wreaths but couldnot attend. Last, the remaining wreaths will be placedon gravesites starting from the flag plaza and movingout until the supply is exhausted.

Parking will be available on the right sides of theroadways inside the cemetery. The normal parkingarea near the main building will be reserved forceremony viewing.

Johnson said he already has heard from a number ofgroups planning to attend.

"We're going to have some good numbers there," hesaid. "We're looking forward to this ceremony."

Johnson said he expected the support the projectgarnered from the community, but he was humbledby the responses of veterans and their families.

"I cannot count the number of calls I took from familymembers who were in tears as they expressed howmuch this meant to them to have a wreath placed ontheir loved one's grave," he said. "It also meant a lotto many living veterans to have their deceasedcomrades recognized for all their sacrifices."





MINNESOTA WING

Camp Ripley, MN

Several veterans’ organizations, the MinnesotaPatriot Guard and members of the Crow Wing and St.Cloud squadrons of the Civil Air Patrol participatedSaturday, December 13 in Wreaths Across America at the State Veterans’ Cemetery near Camp Ripley.

First Lieutenant George Ramler of St. CloudSquadron said the central Minnesota squadronswere proud to be part of the event.

“There are a significant amount of veterans in centralMinnesota and we want to honor them,” Ramler said.

“We also want our cadets to learn the value offreedom and honor those who have fought topreserve our way of life.” Approximately 40,000veterans live within 75 miles of the cemetery.

A poignant moment occurred when one of the nearly245 wreaths was placed at the grave of Sergeant

Jacob Pfingsten, a Crow Wing Squadron memberwho died in 2005 while serving with the US Army inGermany.

“Jake was a great young man. He had a positiveattitude and was always smiling.

He was a great role model for the cadets in

squadron,” said Lt Col Bob Johnson of Crow WingSquadron.

Pfingsten’s parents, Captains Tom and BethPfingsten, and his sister, C/2d Lt Sarah Pfingsten,are active members of the squadron.

The nearly 245 wreaths were about a 3,400 percentincrease from the seven placed at the cemetery lastyear. The Minnesota Patriot Guard provided 75wreaths with another 168 coming from Crow Wingand St. Cloud squadron sponsors.

Still, Ramler hopes the effort will be even moresuccessful next year.

“It’s a big increase from last year and a greatincentive to do even better in 2009. It’s the very leastwe can do to honor our veterans.”

The 37-acre Minnesota State Veteran’s Cemeterynear Camp Ripley was opened in 1994 and is theresting place to 3,000 veterans and eligible familymembers. 334 burials were conducted there duringthe past fiscal year, a 17 percent increase from theprevious year.

Many more photos from theWreaths Across America events in regioncan be seen in the NCR Photo Album at

www.ncrpao.org






Over that period of time, Worcester Wreath hasdonated 90,000 wreaths, which were placed byvolunteers in a wreath-laying ceremony eachDecember. But as word spread, the mission toRemember; Honor; and Teach about the sacrificesmade by our veterans has captured the hearts andminds of many communities across the country.

The Civil Air Patrol started placing wreaths atArlington National Cemetery several years ago. Theevent then spread nationally among members andhas become a tradition for CAP.

Minneapolis

Twin Cities squadrons organized by Wing PublicAffairs Officer, Capt Richard Geis for the third year ina row honored veterans at the Fort Snelling NationalCemetary during the Wreaths Across Americanational event.

“It was a challenging day with the snow and cold, butwe survived. We've had nothing but good reportsand comments of appreciation for your efforts.” saidCol Tom Theis, Minnesota Wing Commander afterthe ceremony.

After the ceremony, Col Tom Theis, Lt Col Mikitta, 1st Lt Norine Olson and C/TSgt Kaelyn Olson C/MSgtTim Blesi also placed wreaths at the grave sites of

Cadet Marc McCollum (Viking SQ) who perished onhis first cross country solo flight at the age of 16,

Colonel Joseph Kasper and Colonel Alan Brandon,former Minnesota Wing commanders were alsohonored with wreaths.






BemidjiLaurie Swenson Bemidji Pioneer

The Civil Air Patrol’s Northland Composite Squadron

hosted Wreaths Across America with a recognitionceremony at Greenwood Cemetery that included thelaying of ceremonial wreaths honoring the Army,Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard,Merchant Marines, U.S. Public Service, prisoners ofwar/missing in action and law enforcement officerswho have served or are serving their country.

The ceremony was held in conjunction with thewreath-laying ceremony at Arlington NationalCemetery in Washington, D.C., and ceremonies atcemeteries around the world.

“Today we show a unitedfront of national unity allacross the United Statesof America as weremember the fallen,honor those who serveand teach our children thevalue of freedom,” saidCapt Terrence Best,Squadron Commander

Staff Sgt. Seth Martell laid the first holiday wreath onbehalf of those who served and are serving in the

U.S. Army.

He was followed by Chaplain Walter James,representing the U.S. Navy; Tom Stinar, representingthe U.S. Marine Corps; Airman Rob Sandberg,representing the U.S. Air Force; Donald Drusch,representing U.S. Coast Guard; Cmdr. RobertSaddoris, representing the U.S. Merchant Marine; Lt.Junior Guard Megan Arndt, representing the U.S.Public Health Service; Civil Air Patrol Cadet, 1st Lt.

Ethan Helgager, representing members of allbranches of the service whose last known status waseither prisoner of war or missing in action; andBeltrami County Sheriff Phil Hodapp, representinglaw enforcement officers who have served or areserving.

“Our goal was to honor the veterans, teach our youngpeople to remember, encourage our active dutymembers that are here, and provide meaningfulservice to the community,” said Capt. RobinHelgager, deputy commander.

After the ceremony, cadets placed purchasedwreaths at graves and rendered salutes.Best told the cadets to take a moment to visit a

gravesite, write down information on the personburied there, and research the name.

“You will find they were real Americans with families — mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothersand sister, aunts and uncles,” he said. “They wereand are more than a statistic.”

To learn more information about the Wreaths AcrossAmerica program please visit their web site atwww.wreathsacrossamerica.org.




Nebraska Squadron Dedicates New Aerospace Education Room

A ribbon cutting ceremony by squadroncommander, Lt Col David Waite and CadetAerospace Education Officer Cadet 2d LtMandy Mueller, marked the opening of theGeneral Curtis E. LeMay Offutt CompositeSquadron's new aerospace education room.

This ceremony was held in conjunction with acelebration recognizing the 52

ndanniversary

of the founding of the squadron. The date ofthe ceremony was also symbolic in that it wasthe week of the 105

thanniversary of the first

heavier then air flights by the Wright Brothers.

An idea of an aerospace education roombecame a possibility when a room becameavailable to move the squadron's supply roomthis past summer. The squadron received a$4000.00 grant from the Best BuyCorporation that allowed the room to be

outfitted with new computers and accessoriesto make two flight simulators.

After the supply room was moved to its new area, the members of the squadron went to work modifying the room.The room was painted to match the Civil Air Patrol aircraft paint scheme. The squadron's Testing and FinanceOfficer, Captain Doug Tweedt, crafted a desk from scratch that can be used by the simulators as well as testing ofcadets. Requests for materials to decorate the room were sent out to aerospace companies across the UnitedStates. Once the materials were received they were placed on the side walls that corresponded to the six cadetaerospace modules. The back wall of the room contains historical items from the squadrons 52 years of existence.This includes autographed pictures from Apollo 10 Commander, Astronaut Thomas Stafford, Apollo 12 AstronautAlan Bean, the first native born Nebraskan Astronaut Clay Anderson, and aviation enthusiast John Travolta. Theentrance wall to the room is covered with patches from flying organizations from across the country.

As the cadets turn the lights on and off to the room they are reminded of what they are working towards. Justabove the light switch to the room is a plaque listing the cadets who have earned their solo wings while members ofthe unit.

Future plans are to use the flight simulators to better prepare the cadets to fly airplanes. The squadron plans onhaving pilots teach specific classes on flying using the capabilities of the simulator software to the fullest. In thenear future a weather station will be installed in the room. The weather station was made possible by a fund raisingproject conducted by the cadets this past fall.

The room is planned as a work in progress and will be updated as new materials are donated to the squadron.

BLACKCAP XXV is coming

If you want to attend a fun and unique CAP Ground Team trainingopportunity then the BlackCAP Emergency Services College is for

you! More information is available at :

Cadets Rachel Dunkleman and Matt Callahan won the rights to be the first cadetsto experience the squadron’s new flight simulators.




CAP Member to become an Air Force Test Pilot Col Mike Beason,Commander, South Dakota Wing

Capt David Marten of the Rushmore Composite Squadron, also assigned toEllsworth AFB as a B-1 pilot, has been selected to attend the USAFTest PilotSchool. Capt Marten has had a long term dream of being a test pilot.

Capt Marten has been a CAP member since 1991, joining as a cadet. He is amission pilot and has held a variety of positions at both squadron and wing levels.Congratulations to Dave for his selection.

Test Pilot School info:http://www.edwards.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6467

Iowa Wing Member Graduates from Air Force BMT

CAP Flight Officer and Air Force Airman Clarissa Mouw recently graduated as anHonor Graduate at Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB, TX. In her

class, there were 37 honor graduates out of 787 classmates, so she was in the top5% of her class. She also made the Thunderbolt achievement for excellence inPhysical Training.

Clarissa is married to Major Mike Mouw. He was the South Dakota Wing’s CadetPrograms Director and recently moved to Iowa and a new squadron. He is also theDirector of Operations for Iowa Wing.

They are both members of the Iowa Wing’s Sheldon Composite Squadron.

Mission Information Officers receive training

The airplanes were moved, the tables were arranged and the projector was connected to the laptop. Civil Air Patrolmembers from across the State of Minnesota come together for a Mission Information Officer (MIO) trainingmission.

All was ready for the six members who attended the MIO training course onJanuary 10th at the Minnesota Wing Headquarters. Attendees received a series ofpresentations from Major Al Pabon, North Central Region Director of Public Affairson what is an Information Officer, their role, it’s importance to the success of amission how to write press releases and working with the media.

1st

Lt George Supan, Group 3 Public Affairs Officer addressed preparing for amission, arriving at the command post and working with the media.

Lt Col Mike Moen, the Group 3 Commander had CAP uniforms to show attendeesand reviewed the 18 different uniforms along what can be worn with each uniform.

The day went by fast as information was shared and guests stopped in to add tothe course. Bill Willis, Minnesota State Director shared his thoughts as to theimportance of the MIO along with the mission’s Incident Commander, Major Chet Wilberg, Emergency ServicesOfficer.

“Sharing information at the right time with the media is very critical”, said Wilberg.

Minnesota State Director Bill Willismakes a point during the

Information Officer Training Mission.




Documents

North Central Region - Jan 2009