Wondering if anyone is keeping records on this? I would think a CAP Wall of Honor or at least mention in CAP publications would be appropriate recognition for our fallen heroes?
I know yesterday we had a 23 year old Marine Corps hero, who had been a member of the "Young Marines" program at the local reserve base, who was killed in action in Afghanistan, and the leader of the local unit even escorted the deceased member's remains from Dover AFB DE.
RM
I doubt anyone is keeping records on it. I've experienced the loss of fellow military members, but what purpose does this serve to maintain or even create such records for CAP?
Quote from: Hawk200 on May 22, 2010, 04:09:55 PM
I doubt anyone is keeping records on it. I've experienced the loss of fellow military members, but what purpose does this serve to maintain or even create such records for CAP?
I think there are some great cadet members who enter CAP and go on to serving their (our) country in the military. :clap: IF they lose their lives, perhaps we as an organization need to acknowledge this.
CAP seems to find stories about other successful prior CAP cadets (e.g. "Two Time Olympian Hoping for Gold", CAP Volunteer magazine Apr-Jun 2010) performing non military feats -- just a thought :-[
RM
Quote from: RADIOMAN015 on May 22, 2010, 05:27:17 PMCAP seems to find stories about other successful prior CAP cadets (e.g. "Two Time Olympian Hoping for Gold", CAP Volunteer magazine Apr-Jun 2010) performing non military feats -- just a thought :-[
An "In Memoriam" type of regular article in the Volunteer would be fine, and very appropriate. Not a bad idea.
Creating records on prior CAP members that lose their lives while in the service doesn't seem to present any kind of benefit. What purpose does it really serve? It doesn't provide any real benefit to CAP, the military, or the public. It may give the creator or keeper of such records a warm fuzzy, but it doesn't really provide much.
I would put this on the descision of the local squadron. Since these fallen Soliders, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are of the local community...remembering them would have the most solemn effect locally.
Local unit, yes. We have three, and they're listed, with service photos. on our web site, and during unit functions.
Quote from: Major Carrales on May 22, 2010, 05:46:14 PM
I would put this on the descision of the local squadron. Since these fallen Soliders, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are of the local community...remembering them would have the most solemn effect locally.
Quote from: a2capt on May 22, 2010, 08:08:29 PM
Local unit, yes. We have three, and they're listed, with service photos. on our web site, and during unit functions.
Agree on both. Just collecting numbers at National level doesn't really have much of a point.
Quote from: Hawk200 on May 22, 2010, 05:41:34 PM
Quote from: RADIOMAN015 on May 22, 2010, 05:27:17 PMCAP seems to find stories about other successful prior CAP cadets (e.g. "Two Time Olympian Hoping for Gold", CAP Volunteer magazine Apr-Jun 2010) performing non military feats -- just a thought :-[
An "In Memoriam" type of regular article in the Volunteer would be fine, and very appropriate. Not a bad idea.
Creating records on prior CAP members that lose their lives while in the service doesn't seem to present any kind of benefit. What purpose does it really serve? It doesn't provide any real benefit to CAP, the military, or the public. It may give the creator or keeper of such records a warm fuzzy, but it doesn't really provide much.
I do not know what purpose keeping records would be....however, I do know that the names of those former Cadets/Senior Members who have been killed in action or training are included in the memorial presentations at the CAWG and PCR conferences.
The only thing I could see this being useful, would be that these men and women would be USED to try to procure funding from the military, because "We train your soldiers before you do." I believe that to be wholly wrong and disgraceful to their memory and service to use them in that way. The record should be kept at local, at most wing level. I someone is truly moved by a soldier who gave their life in action, who was a cadet then let them write an article on them. But please don't put me on any list like that.
Being in the guard, it is my duty to defend this great country and do my part to aid the brave soldiers under my command. If any of them were former cadets or SM's I would certainly like for his/her memory to live on via our squadron and/or the wing.
Here is the thing... Our squadron commander is a 1LT Active Duty USAF stationed here at Dyess AFB, he is a great guy and God forbid anything would happen to him if he were deployed, I would want his bravery to be remembered.
There is something good that can come out of recognizing this type of sacrifice... HQ could actually put together a scholorship fund in the name of these fallen soldiers who were cadets or SM's. Just like anything, there can be negatives or positives but those who gave their lives and were cadets/SM's should be remembered at least at HQ with a memorial of some sort but definately by the squadron... why do we have memorial day if not to remember these individuals and their sacrifices?
Mixed feelings about this and I'm not sure why. For one thing, I'm sure there are probably hundreds, if not in the low thousands, that might qualify for such recognition if you go back to WWII and our ability to independently verify their CAP service is basically nonexistent except for those that were in sometime in the last 20 years and even then its spotty.
Its not a totally crazy idea - many schools have such memorials to their graduates that were killed in various wars.
But, on the other hand, why would we want to restict such an honor to those who died in military service? What about cops, fireman, or the CAP member who served his community in the road department and gets killed by a car while filling a pothone? They're all serving their community in some way.