SR 636: Civil Air Patrol; recognize

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.