Assembly Resolution No. 52

BY: M. of A. Crouch

COMMEMORATING the 77th Anniversary of Civil Air
Patrol

WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing and
honoring those organizations selflessly dedicated to protecting our
country and improving the health and well-being of communities
throughout the State and our nation; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
77th Anniversary of the Civil Air Patrol; and

WHEREAS, Each year, on the first day of December, this vital
organization remembers the sacrifices of its earliest members, whose
extraordinary contributions to America continue today in its citizen
volunteers' vigilant service to country and community; and

WHEREAS, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was founded on December 1, 1941,
less than one week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led to
America's involvement in World War II; its members quickly proved their
worth by conducting aerial patrols on their own, heroism which
discouraged and eventually helped stop deadly German U-boat attacks
along United States coastlines and waterways; and

WHEREAS, On May 26, 1948, Congress passed a law designating CAP as
the Air Force Auxiliary with three primary missions - emergency
missions, cadet programs, and aerospace education; and

WHEREAS, The wartime service of CAP's "subchasers" helped stop the
loss of American and Allied merchant vessels, saving the lives of untold
thousands of sailors and countless millions of dollars of war materiel
destined for the battlefields in Europe and the Pacific; and

WHEREAS, In addition to coastal patrols, CAP aircrews assisted with
other essential wartime missions on the home front, such as search and
rescue, disaster relief, border patrol, forest fire patrol, target
towing for military practice and transporting critical supplies; and

WHEREAS, CAP members also managed hundreds of airports and trained
aviators, many of them teenage cadets, for future service in CAP and the
military; and

WHEREAS, Those services provided by Civil Air Patrol's World War
II-era veterans earned CAP a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest
civilian honor bestowed by Congress, on December 10, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Today, more than 61,000 CAP members continue to build on
the terrific foundation forged by their forefathers; and

WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction of Major General Mark Smith,
CAP's legacy lives on in today's all-volunteer force, which continues to
contribute to America's defense by providing aerial reconnaissance for
homeland security, giving Air Force fighter pilots practice in

protecting airspace and helping train United States military troops for
service overseas; and

WHEREAS, CAP members truly make a profound difference in more than
1,500 communities across the nation, saving lives through search and
rescue and other emergency services, and conducting aerospace education
and youth programs which help develop the nation's next generation of
leaders; and

WHEREAS, Over its distinguished 77-year history, CAP has
demonstrated continuous service to the residents and communities which
it serves; and

WHEREAS, The success of CAP is in direct correlation to the efforts
of its volunteers, whose involvement is, and always has been,
characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and
an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of
the organization and the community it serves; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 77th Anniversary of Civil Air Patrol; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Major General Mark Smith, National Commander and Chief
Executive Officer, Civil Air Patrol.