HR672: HR672 Civil Air Patrol; service to the citizens of Georgia; commend

25 LC 112 3455 House Resolution 672 By: Representatives Bonner of the 73rd, Gambill of the 15th, Hitchens of the 161st, Thomas of the 21st, and Evans of the 57th A RESOLUTION Recognizing the Civil Air Patrol for their service to the citiz ens of Georgia; and for other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, the Civil Air Patrol was founded on December 1, 1941, as an organization of3 volunteers meant to assist the United States military in national defense by performing aerial4 coastal patrols and emergency services within the continental United States; and5 WHEREAS, in 1943, the capabilities of this new volunteer organization were recognized as6 vital to national defense, and by Presidential Executive Order, the Civil Air Patrol was7 assigned to the War Department and subsequently designated by Congress on May 26, 1948,8 as the official auxiliary to the United States Air Force to per form three distinct missions:9 emergency services, aerospace education, and cadet programs; and10 WHEREAS, Civil Air Patrol's association with the United States Air Force in performing11 these "Missions for America" as part of the United States Air Force's Total Force; and12 WHEREAS, the Georgia Wing of Civil Air Patrol consists of almos t 2,000 volunteer13 members in 44 squadrons and six groups located throughout this state; and14 H. R. 672 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3455 WHEREAS, Georgia Wing members received national recognition in 2021 by receiving the15 Crisis Service Award for their efforts to support Georgia's com munities during the16 COVID-19 pandemic; and 17 WHEREAS, Georgia Wing members, as an intricate component of our national defense,18 volunteer their services, time, and resources to actively suppo rt Civil Air Patrol by19 conducting missions in homeland security, disaster relief, and emergency services, search20 and rescue, counter drug, aerospace education, and cadet progra ms, heavily supporting21 hurricane relief efforts for Helene and Milton by providing FEM A and GEMA with22 thousands of aerial images and conducting "Sundown Patrols" in South Georgia; and23 WHEREAS, the estimated value of the Georgia Wing members' volunteer hours in 2024 was24 in excess of $7.6 million; and25 WHEREAS, these "flying minutemen" of the Civil Air Patrol have, since its inception,26 consistently provided this state with invaluable emergency serv ices, serving America's27 communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.28 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that29 the members of this body recognize the selfless contributions that the volunteers of the Civil30 Air Patrol have made to the State of Georgia.31 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized32 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the33 Georgia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.34 H. R. 672 - 2 -