LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Lt. Col. Johnnie A. Pantanelli for her
58 years of distinguished service and unselfish dedication to the Civil
Air Patrol's Cadet Program as a Squadron Commander

WHEREAS, Individuals who have faithfully served the people of this great
state and nation with enduring commitment and dedication truly merit the
recognition and appreciation of this Legislative Body; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Lt. Col. Johnnie A. Pantanelli for her 58 years of distinguished service
and unselfish devotion to the Civil Air Patrol's Cadet Program as a
Squadron Commander; and
WHEREAS, The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the civilian auxiliary of the
United States Air Force; it is a volunteer, non-profit, benevolent
organization made up of aviation-minded adult and cadet members commit-
ted to serving the nation; and
WHEREAS, For more than 65 years, the volunteers of the Civil Air
Patrol have served the country and their local communities through CAP's
chartered missions of Emergency Services, Aerospace Education, and Cadet
Programs; and
WHEREAS, The South Eastern Group of the Civil Air Patrol's New York
Wing, based in White Plains, serves Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess
counties helping to develop area youth and performing local, state, and
national emergency and humanitarian missions; and
WHEREAS, CAP builds strong citizens for the future by providing lead-
ership training, technical education, scholarships and career education
to young men and women, ages 12 to 21 through its Cadet Programs; and
WHEREAS, A member of the Civil Air Patrol since December 1944, Lt.
Col. Johnnie A. Pantanelli has ably served as Squadron Commander of the
South Eastern Group's Cadet Program since 1952; Cadets in the South
Eastern Group have gone on to successful military and civilian careers,
including acceptance to military service academies, and jobs in commer-
cial aviation; and
WHEREAS, In addition to her decades-long role as Squadron Commander,
Lt. Col. Pantanelli has also had Group and/or Wing responsibilities in
Personnel; as Commandant of Cadets; in Supply and Training; as Adjutant
Inspector and Coordinator of Women's Activities; as a member of the New
York Wing and Group Review Board for IACE (International Air Cadet
Exchange Program) and Promotions and for the Group Promotions Board; as
Assistant Inspector and as a member of the Group Advisory Council; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, Lt. Col. Pantanelli participated in several
IACE programs acting, variously, as Female Escort Officer, Hostess,
Exchange Escort, Exchange Hostess and Project Officer and had multiple
Emergency Service and Special Track assignments; and
WHEREAS, Over the years she has earned a host of CAP Awards and
Ribbons, including a Squadron of Merit Award; numerous Unit Citation
Awards; a Bronze Medal of Valor Award; and several CAP Achievement,
Senior Member of the Year Group, and Squadron Commander of the Year
Awards; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Johnnie A. Pantanelli has long been known, respected
and admired for her professionalism and for her love for CAP; many
former Cadets who had served under her and on whose lives she had made a
tremendous impression traveled great distances to attend when she was
presented with the CAP's prestigious General Ira C. Eaker Award; and
WHEREAS, Also indicative of the impact she has had on our leaders of
today and tomorrow is the ceremonial West Point sword presented to her

by four of her former Cadets who went on to attend and graduate from
West Point; and
WHEREAS, Throughout Lt. Col. Johnnie A. Pantanelli's Civil Air Patrol
career, which has spanned a remarkable 67 years, she has been an active
participant in CAP not only on the squadron level, but also on the
group, wing and region levels; and
WHEREAS, She has, in addition, had a positive impact not only
nationally but internationally through her frequent and enduring work
with and on behalf of the IACE program and has not only received commen-
dations from the National Commander of CAP, but also from such countries
as France, Austria and Canada; and
WHEREAS, During her distinguished Civil Air Patrol career, Lt. Col.
Johnnie A. Pantanelli has helped to preserve and protect the people, the
values, and the beliefs of our state and nation in an exemplary fashion;
and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to express its appreciation to
her on behalf of the people of the State of New York and to wish her
well; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Lt. Col. Johnnie A. Pantanelli for her 58 years of distinguished
service and unselfish devotion to the Civil Air Patrol's Cadet Program
as a Squadron Commander and to commend her for her long and sustained
commitment to the principles upon which our nation was founded and which
are our treasured American heritage; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Lt. Col. Johnnie A. Pantanelli.