May 14, 1952: President Truman "Asks" the CAP for Its Help with Congress

Image via Wikipedia

On this date, President Harry S. Truman addressed a Civil Air Patrol dinner put on for members of Congress and joked that he needed their help in getting some legislation passed through Capitol Hill.

An excerpt from the Truman Library: 

Now, I want to congratulate the Civil Air Patrol on the approach it is making to Congress by having this dinner. I don't know just what you want out of Congress, but I will say to you you are going at it the right way. In fact, I would like to make a deal with you. I would like to team up with you. I will help you get what you want from the Congress--although I haven't got very much influence with them these days-if you will help me get what I want. You know, I have a little trouble in that regard, sometimes. I have got some wonderful friends in the Congress who understand what the program is all about and who fight valiantly for it. But, you know, it is a terrific thing to get a Congress to work in a presidential election year. Nobody knows that better than I do.

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May 7, 1962: President Kennedy Accepts Honorary Membership in CAP, Says Still Need for "Fliers"

John F. Kennedy via last.fm

On this date in 1962, President John F. Kennedy accepted an honorary life membership in the Civil Air Patrol.  President Kennedy spoke to a group of Cadets in the Rose Garden, where he stressed that even in the "missile age," there would be a need for "fliers."

From JFKLink, the President's remarks:

I WANT to express my thanks to all of you for coming this morning, and for this award. I was invited to this affair by General Spaatz, who was of course the Commander of the Air Force in Europe in World War II, later Commander of the United States Air Force, who emphasized to me the very vital role which the Civil Air Patrol plays in supplying future cadets for the Air Force - supplying assistance to fliers who may be downed. I understand that at least one of you has participated in a rescue operation of a downed flier.
     This is a very valuable service which you render to our country. There is still a tremendous need for manned aircraft. The exhibition we saw down at Eglin Air Force Base on Friday of manned aircraft indicates that even though we are, on the one hand, moving into the missile age, there is still need for fliers and will be for many years to come.
     Our experience in Southeast Asia using old planes indicates the kind of difficulties that we may be faced with in many areas of the world, and the particular kind of flying talent which is necessary.
     So I do want to emphasize that even though we may be interested and at times stimulated by the movement into the missile space age, the need for manned aircraft is going to continue - certainly for the future that we can see ahead - and will serve a very vital national interest.
     I am particularly glad to have you ladies here and participating in this program - I'm sorry I wasn't in it when I was younger.

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May 1, 2006: President George W. Bush Meets with Maryland CAP Cadets

On this date in 2006, President George W. Bush met with Civil Air Patrol Cadets from the Maryland Wing and announced several educational initiatives.

An excerpt from the Maryland Wing of the CAP:

President Bush greeted members of the Maryland Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) following a speech he made about education initiatives at the Parkland Magnet School for Aerospace Technology in Rockville, Md.


"Thank you for encouraging your children to aim high," said the President, who was accompanied by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings.

After noting that he saw CAP cadets in the room and calling out "Civil Air Patrol" to invite them to have a picture taken by a member of his staff, Bush shook hands with the CAP members in attendance and posed for a picture with them.

Bush arrived in the afternoon at the middle school, one of three magnet middle school programs in Montgomery County that were funded by a $7.2 million federal grant.

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March 31, 2009: New Texas Squadron Named after President George H.W. Bush

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On this date in 2009, a new Texas Civil Air Patrol squadron was named for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, a World War II naval aviator.

An excerpt from the CAP press release:

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – On Tuesday, March 31, former President George H.W. Bush will attend the chartering of the Texas Wing’s newest squadron, the George H. W. Bush Composite Squadron -- the first charter Civil Air Patrol unit to be named after a U.S. president. The ceremony will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Presidential Conference Center of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the Texas A & M campus in College Station.  “We were delighted that President Bush has agreed to lend his name to our fledgling squadron,” said Lt. Col. Don Wheeler, squadron commander.

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