[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 62 (Thursday, April 21, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2383-S2384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL AIR PATROL

  Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the Civil Air 
Patrol as it celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. The Civil Air 
Patrol has been a tremendous contributor in our great State, and I am 
honored to recognize and congratulate it on this important milestone.
  The Civil Air Patrol was founded on December 1, 1941, the week before 
the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, by a group of brave civilians 
interested in donating both their aviation skills and free time to 
protecting the Nation's coastlines during World War II, in addition to 
contributing to other civil defense missions. During this time, pilots 
volunteering with the Civil Air Patrol flew more than 500,000 hours and 
helped in a variety of ways, including patrolling the coastline for 
submarine activity, monitoring our forests and southern borders, and 
searching for ships and personnel in distress.
  On July 1, 1946, the Civil Air Patrol was established as a federally 
chartered nonprofit corporation by President Harry Truman. Following 
this, on May 26, 1948, Congress passed a law, designating the Civil Air 
Patrol as the Air Force Auxiliary and establishing primary missions for 
the Civil Air Patrol. The legislation established that the Civil Air 
Patrol would focus on emergency services, cadet programs, and aerospace 
education. Today this important organization is a national community 
service group with 31,000 professionally trained civilian volunteers 
and serves as a partner to the U.S. Air Force as a member of its total 
force. The Civil Air Patrol serves to assist Federal, State, and local 
governments and offers assistance for homeland security missions, 
counterdrug efforts, search and rescue missions, and disaster relief.
  The Nevada Wing Civil Air Patrol upholds these values, maintaining 
strong search and rescue programs, cadet programs, and aerospace 
education, and has a far-reaching positive impact on both urban and 
rural communities throughout the Silver State. The many volunteers 
contributing to the Nevada Wing have helped at a variety of events, 
departments, and facilities across the State, including the State 
Veterans Home, the Boulder City and Fernley Veterans Cemeteries, 
Operation Home Front, Blue Star Widows, Nevada Department of Emergency 
Management Search and Rescue Board, and many more.
  In addition, the Nevada Wing has strengthened its relationship with 
the Nevada Department of Emergency Management and has reinforced its 
incident management action team, triggering a quicker and more thorough 
response to support calls from across the Nation. This incredible 
wing's contributions to both adults and children across the State are 
invaluable. I extend my deepest gratitude to the many men and women who 
volunteer for the Nevada wing for their genuine concern and services in 
helping others. The legacy they have built for the Nevada Wing will 
live on for generations to come.
  For three-quarters of a century, the Civil Air Patrol has proven its 
unwavering dedication to our State and to our country. The hard work of 
those that have served both nationally at the Civil Air Patrol and 
within the Nevada Wing has not gone unnoticed. These courageous men and 
women stand as role models in their pursuits to help others in states 
of emergency and in

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everyday events. I ask Nevadans across the Silver State and my 
colleagues to join me in honoring the Civil Air Patrol on its 75th 
anniversary and in thanking the Civil Air Patrol for its commendable 
missions.

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