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Commander -
Reflections on Volunteer Service
One of the things that I like most about CAP is the
quality of people I get to work with. It really is a privilege to be
surrounded by men and women who care enough about our missions that,
without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, they give
themselves freely to a cause that provides some measure of safety and
security to strangers in times of need. We will never be sent to war,
but we will gladly roll ourselves out of bed at 2:00 a.m. to
chase down an ELT, or even take a week or two out of our lives to be
displaced to a disaster area so that we can provide critical assistance
to folks who had the misfortune of living in a home that happened to be
in the path of a hurricane. And we do that for free, because every one
of us recognizes that service is a privilege.
I offer you an additional observation. There are a number
of people in our midst that spent years of their life, or even an entire
career, in the military, and yet they continue to serve in a volunteer
capacity. As I look out across Group III I see people who jumped out of
airplanes, people who made satellite communications work, intelligence
types, aircrew, folks who worked on the ground to make everything work,
people from all branches of the service, air, ground and sea.
I think it says something about the nature of a person
who willingly chooses to exceed the expectations of being an otherwise
private citizen that so many wonderful and committed people can be found
in our organization. Whether you have served in the military or not,
whether you're an officer or a cadet, whether you fly or not, whether or
not I've ever met you, the work you do in CAP is valuable, and you do
make a difference.
I offer you the following with the greatest sincerity:
thank you for your volunteer service.
Commanders, I ask that you share this with your members.
We don't thank our members enough, and I want each one to know that I
personally value their contribution.
Owen Younger, Lt Col, CAP
Group III Texas Wing
Commander
Tertia Semper Primoris
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