Bill Text: NY K00052 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Commemorating the 77th Anniversary of Civil Air Patrol
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2019-01-23 - adopted [K00052 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-K00052-Introduced.html
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.