NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS - Civil Air Patrol observed the 70th anniversary of its founding with a ceremony Thursday at National Headquarters that paid tribute to the past, celebrated the present and looked forward to the future, culminating in the presentation of Exceptional Service Awards to a pair of the organization's World War II members.
Lt. Cols. Wendall Haas and Otha Vaughan, both members of the Alabama Wing, were honored for their service during CAP's wartime years. They received their awards from Col. Al Bedgood, Southeast Region commander. In addition, Don Rowland, executive director at National Headquarters, presented each man with a framed commemorative 70th-anniversary poster and an anniversary coin.
Along with Haas, Vaughan, Bedgood and Rowland, those assembled heard from U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Roger Watkins, commander of the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development at Maxwell Air Force Base, where National Headquarters is located, and U.S. Air Force Col. Paul Gloyd, commander of CAP-USAF.
Lt. Col. Wendall Haas - who drew a laugh when he declared that "you need to stand up to be seen, you need to speak up to be heard and you need to sit down to be appreciated" - speaks to the crowd in front of National Headquarters after being presented with the Exceptional Service Award. Listening by his side is his fellow award recipient, Lt. Col. Otha Vaughan. Photo by Susan Schneider, National Headquarters
Watkins told the assembly that "Dec. 1 is a special day in the history of Civil Air Patrol, for it officially marks the organization's 70th anniversary. Seventy years ago, as America prepared for World War II, CAP was born, through the bravery of patriotic men - and women - like these two members who we honor here today."
Gloyd echoed Watkins' praise for that wartime record, lauding "the thousands of men and women who followed their hearts and volunteered to serve their country during World War II."
Rowland reminded his listeners of the effort under way in both houses of Congress to secure approval of legislation that would honor CAP's World War II senior members with
a Congressional Gold Medal.
John Salvador, CAP assistant executive director, noted that the anniversary ceremony was being held during Civil Air Patrol Week in Alabama, Nov. 27-Dec. 3, as proclaimed by Gov. Robert Bentley.
Salvador read passages from the proclamation, which cites the organization's service during World War II, makes note of CAP's core congressional missions - emergency services, cadet programs and aerospace education - as well as its chaplains' contributions, its role in recent high-profile missions and its partnership with Wreaths Across America.