Senate Resolution 636
By: Senators Harbin of the 16th, Williams of the 25th, Dolezal of the 27th, Merritt of the 9th,
Wicks of the 34th and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the Civil Air Patrol for their service to the citizens of Georgia; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, the Civil Air Patrol was founded on December 1, 1941, as an organization of
volunteers meant to assist the United States military in national defense by performing aerial
coastal patrols and emergency services within the continental United States; and
WHEREAS, in 1943, the capabilities of this new volunteer organization were recognized as
vital to national defense, and by Presidential Executive Order, the Civil Air Patrol was
assigned to the War Department and subsequently designated by Congress on May 26, 1948,
as the official auxiliary to the United States Air Force to perform three distinct missions:
emergency services, aerospace education, and cadet programs; and
WHEREAS, Civil Air Patrol’s association with the United States Air Force in performing
these “Missions for America” as part of the United States Air Force's Total Force; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Wing of Civil Air Patrol consists of almost 2,000 volunteer
members in 44 squadrons and six groups located throughout this state; and
WHEREAS, Georgia Wing members received national recognition in 2021 by receiving the
Crisis Service Award for their efforts to support Georgia's communities during the
COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Georgia Wing members, as an intricate component of our national defense,
volunteer their services, time, and resources to actively support Civil Air Patrol by
conducting missions in homeland security, disaster relief, and emergency services, search
and rescue, counter drug, aerospace education, and cadet programs, heavily supporting
hurricane relief efforts for Helene and Milton by providing FEMA and GEMA with
thousands of aerial images and conducting "Sundown Patrols" in South Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the estimated value of the Georgia Wing members' volunteer hours in 2024 was
in excess of $7.6 million; and
WHEREAS, these “flying minutemen” of the Civil Air Patrol have, since its inception,
consistently provided this state with invaluable emergency services, serving America's
communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recognize the selfless contributions that the volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol have made to
the State of Georgia.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Georgia Wing
of the Civil Air Patrol.