2015 Winter Issue

The Crusader

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Battle of the Bulge……….…….2

Change of Command ………...4

Famous Flier. ........................ 5

Winter Safety Checklist ........ 5

Orientation Flights ............... 6

Best Experiences .................. 7

Water Way Hazards ............. 7

Member Story Heckler……….8

Apple Festival……...…………...9

Blast from the Past….…..…….9

POINTS OF INTEREST

O-Flight Photos

Squadron Contacts

BATTLE OF THE BULGE C/SMSGT NOAH W WOLFE

The trip to Battle of the Bulge was not only fascinating but also a great learning

experience. To start the weekend, the weather was just like that of when the soldiers

were fighting in Belgium… Extremely frigid! Around the base it was not uncommon

to see patches of ice covering the cold ground. However, inside the base was filled

with regiments from all over the state that included The Royal Airforce, 12th Irish

Guards, 44th Infantry Division, & the Waffen SS. Throughout the weekend, I saw sev-

eral vehicles and weapons that interested me such as the German troop transport and

the M1 Garand. I found these interesting because they were both very well known in

the battle and in person they were historically accurate. I enjoyed the Battle of the

Bulge trip this year and I am looking forward to going again with the Civil Air Patrol

next year.

2 German Reenactors Marching through Fort Indiantown Gap

3

Remember Our Fallen - One Wreath At A Time

Yes, we have Veterans Day in the fall, and Memorial Day in the spring. But our service men and women sacrifice their time and safety every

single day of the year, to preserve our freedoms.

At many homes, there is an empty seat for one who is serving, or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Country. We honor our veterans every day. And we think there is no better time to express our appreciation, than

during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

It will have a real impact come December when we honor every single vet-eran who ever served to protect our freedoms, and only takes 10 min and

a few clicks of the mouse! Each wreath is $15.

There is no better time than the present to sell wreaths. Not only does the

squadron get a portion of the proceeds from each wreath sponsored but each

sponsorship ensures one more Veteran will get a wreath this holiday season.

Now is a great time to approach businesses for Corporate Sponsorships too!

Please see our website at www.pasquadron601.org and click on the Wreaths

Across America tab for more details.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

"Community Service is giving back to your local community in payment for what we take from

it."

CANON-MCMILLAN STUDENT TAKES CADET COMMAND

DURING ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET

Washington County Composite Squadron

601 of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) celebrated the

74th Anniversary of CAP with a Cadet Change of

Command Ceremony and Awards Banquet on

December 1st, 2015. Cadet CMSgt Zachary

Keyes of Canonsburg assumed command of the

squadron and Cadet 1st Lt Collin Page of Wash-

ington made his final remarks as outgoing com-

mander. Cadet Page was also promoted to 1st Lt

and awarded the Community Service Award.

This award is given to members who have com-

pleted 60 hours or more of community service.

Page has gone above and beyond that require-

ment having already dedicated over 120 hours to

his local community. When asked what commu-

nity service means to him he replied,

“Community service is giving back to our local

community in payment for what we take from it.

Without us giving back, the community would

starve for help to replenish its resources.”

A number of other achievements were also

awarded to various squadron members during the

ceremony. C/2d Lt Zachary Kagle of Burgetts-

town was presented with the General Billy Mitch-

ell Award. A milestone award which is earned

after completion of the first eight achievements in

the cadet program. Cadets who receive the Gen-

eral Billy Mitchell Award are also eligible for

advanced placement to the grade of E-3 should

they choose to enter the US Air Force. Kagle was

also awarded the Airforce Association Squadron

Cadet of the Year.

4

From left to right: Capt Nancy Parker, C/TSgt Jeremy

Soyring, C/1stLt Collin Page, C/CMSgt Zachary Keyes

C/CMSgt Keyes giving a speech as the new Cadet

Commander

Continued next page.

SNIPPET- FAMOUS FLIER BURT RUTAN

WINTER STORM

FOOD & SAFETY

CHECKLIST

Have a weeks worth food & safe-

ty supplies on hand.

Drinking water

Canned/no-cook food (bread,

crackers, dried fruits)

Non-electric can opener

Baby food and formula (if baby

in the household)

Prescription drugs and other

medicine

First-aid kit

Rock-salt to melt ice on walk-

ways

Supply of cat litter or bag of sand

to add traction on walkways

Flashlight and extra batteries

Battery-powered lamps or lan-

terns

(To prevent the risk of fire, avoid

using candles.)

5

C/TSgt Jeremy Soyring of Canonsburg achieved his Eddie

Rickenbacker Achievement and was promoted to C/TSgt. C/SrA

Joshua Sheppard of Washington had the honor of receiving the Cadet

of the Year Award, Keyes was awarded the Cadet NCO of the Year,

and 1st Lt Samuel Soyring was awarded Senior Member of the Year.

Squadron “Of the Year Awards” are given to recognize members

who have shown outstanding leadership and continued dedication at

the squadron level. “Each year we reward our fellow squadron mem-

bers for going above and beyond in service to our squadron and com-

munity. It is always an honor to be chosen for such recognition. I am

proud to work with such a great group of people”, commented Capt.

Nancy Parker, Squadron Commander.

The following cadets were recognized at a smaller promotions

ceremony held at the squadron in November: C/A1C Caleb

Heckler of Marianna received the General "Hap" Arnold

Achievement, C/MSgt Daniel Salai of Wind Ridge received the

Charles A. Lindbergh Achievement, C/SrA Joshua Sheppard of

Washington received the Mary Feik Achievement, and C/1st Lt

Raeann Silassy of Canonsburg received her promotion to 1st Lt.

As a whole, the Washington Composite Squadron received the

Quality Cadet Unit Award. A national recognition given to ca-

det units that display strong program fundamentals.

Information courtesy of

emergency.cdc.gov Birthdate:

June 17, 1943

1st Solo Flight: Age 16

Created Rutan Aircraft

Factory in 1974.

Created the Voyager

Aircraft.

1st Privately built &

Owned Rocket Pow-

ered Aircraft to Space.

One of America’s

Greatest Engineers &

Designers.

Additional information

located on

www.capmembers.com

Photo Courtesy of Mojave Aerospace Ven-

tures LLC

(shown here on the right, Paul Allen on the left)

From Left to Right: C/SSgt Elizabeth Silassy, Lt. Col. Kevin Berry, & Cadet William Beveridge

LOCAL YOUTH TAKE TO THE SKIES WITH CIVIL AIR PATROL

Two teens from the Washington County Composite Squadron 601 took to the skies and experienced the thrill of aviation, through orientation flights with the Civil Air Patrol at Washington County Airport today. Under the guidance of CAP pilot Lt. Col. Kevin Berry, Cadet William Beveridge of Charleroi experienced his first flight as the newest member of Squadron 601 while C/SSgt Elizabeth Silassy of Canonsburg enjoyed her fourth flight.

Beveridge, when asked about his first flight experience re-marked, “It was a very enlightening experience. My favorite part was when I was a co-pilot and able to learn how to fly.

Also, it was pretty cool to see my school from the air!”

Each hour long flight in CAP’s single-engine Cessna aircraft introduced the cadets to the science that makes flight possible. They learned about navigation, weather, aircraft instruments, flight maneuvers, and more. The cadets’ day began by helping pre-flight their aircraft. Working with their pilot, they taxied their aircraft to Washington County Airport’s runway, gave it full throttle and took off, climbing to 3,100 feet. While aloft, it was the cadets who were handling the controls, during the non-critical stages of the flight.

“It was really cool,” stated Silassy. “We were able to fly over a blanket of fog and the skies were so clear you could see for miles! Definitely the best flight I have had so far.”

The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program is open to youth aged 12 through 18. Additionally, there are volunteer opportunities for adults, pilots and non-pilots alike. For more information, con-tact Captain Nancy Parker at nanran89@gmail.com or visit www.pasquadron601.org.

6

My CAP experience has been wonderful ever since the day I joined Civil Air Patrol Squadron 601 headquarters. First day I was a little nerv-ous, but I knew that there would be a good outcome about this program. Within a couple of weeks I started to get to know everybody espe-cially the ones who stood out like a boulder in the middle of the road pushing you to find a way around it when there is only one way, I loved that feeling that I witness. One aspect though was making memories with my new friends and all of us know we have one thing in common and that was civil air patrol; which I had never had friends like this in my en-tire life until now. I couldn’t wait to see what lied ahead in store each week, my mom knew I was ecstatic about CAP until I heard about BCOP (Basic Cadet Orientation Pro-gram). I knew in my mind that I wasn’t ready for my butt to be teared off by a screaming chief in my face in Ford City but something hit me and made me realize it was preparing me for something that lied ahead and that was encamp-ment. Encampment could have never been so fun, the kind of extreme fun for me. I never thought that I would get to stand next to an Apache helicopter. The best part was building skills that our flight had made into a brotherly hood relationship as a team. Now to think of it I wish I could go back to that someday and do it all over again. So, in all of my times in CAP I could have never been so proud of myself for doing stuff like flying a plane and also from the point I am at right now thanks to my mom, Tonya. She could have never been the best mom ever in my life because without her I wouldn’t be right where I am. I really recom-mend this cadet program for building life skills that you will need to use later in life. Last, on the behalf of me and mom, senior member Heckler, I would like to say thank you Civil Air Patrol Squadron 601 for being the best squadron I could be in, so when I think about myself in the future, in the Airforce, I can see myself doing great stuff in my life.

BEST EXPERIENCES C/A1C Heckler

7

Squadron 601 Contacts

Squadron Commander Capt. Nancy Parker

nanran89@gmail.com

Deputy Commander Capt. Alex Ladzinski

Deputy Commander for

Seniors Capt. Bruce Wambach

Deputy Commander for

Cadets Capt. Dave Shaw

Safety Officer

Capt. Randy Filkins

Public Affairs Officers 1st Lt. Malisa Silassy

mrs.silassy@gmail.com 1st Lt. Peggy Secunda

C/A1C Heckler Preparing for a Glide Flight

C/A1C Heckler & C/1stLt. Page

MEMBER STORY

Senior Member Tonya Heckler, Drug Demand Reduction Officer

My experience as a CAP parent…..

It has been almost one year since my son

joined Civil Air Patrol. As a parent, you want the best

programs, sports, friends, experiences and education

for your child. After the first week at Squadron 601, I

was very impressed by the structure and activity. I

was as impressed as my son was and couldn’t wait to

return the next week to see what else was in store. I

was worried that he would not be able to handle the

responsibilities or would not like the structure they

were providing, but after three weeks my son decided

he was joining Squadron 601(he knew after the first

week that he loved it.) Over the last year, I have wit-

nessed many accomplishments as well as failure.

During the first year, I have witnessed a bond and

professionalism between fellow cadets as well as with

senior members. A trust between each other and friendships. I have witnessed my cadet grow

and change as well as other cadets. I have seen experiences such as BCOP, encampment, glider

flying, and community service on my child’s face. The happiness of accomplishments and

sometimes the sadness of defeat. All these experiences whether fun or not have helped my ca-

det grow in so many different ways. Civil Air Patrol has showed me the differences in children

and how each one has their own way of succeeding at their own pace.

Would I recommend, as a parent, for a child to join Civil Air Patrol? Yes, indeed I would. Civil

Air Patrol teaches discipline, and encourages children to stay in school. They also teach drug

awareness and gives children an alternative to negative environments. CAP also teaches safe-

ty, aerospace and promotes physical activity. All in all this first year as a parent of a Civil Air

Patrol cadet has been very rewarding. I too have learned a lot about my child as well as seen

firsthand that there are great and rewarding programs and people that further my child’s teen-

age experience. Thank you to all who help Civil Air Patrol be successful in building our chil-

dren up to be well rounded individuals. Now, that I am a senior member of Squadron 601, I

hope that I can instill many more positive qualities in our cadets, add to the wonderful activi-

ties, and gain much more from the cadets then I already have. This so far has been a true re-

warding experience for me as a parent and as a senior member. Thank you Squadron 601 for

allowing me to be part of your journey.

8

Capt. Nancy Parker & SM Tonya Heckler

HCKORY APPLE

FESTIVAL & PANCAKE

BREAKFAST

Thank you to all of the Senior

Members and Cadets who

volunteered their time at the

Pancake Breakfast. It is always

a fun time of selling wreaths,

serving food, cleaning up spills,

& of course, flipping pancakes.

BLAST FROM THE

PAST

It is always a pleasure when a

former cadet stops by to share

his/her life experiences and fill

you in on where they are now.

Washington Composite Squad-

ron's first cadet, David Neville,

takes time out from his busy life

as a F-16 pilot, to share his

journey with our cadets!

9

Below: Missing Man Table at 601’s Annual Awards Banquet

Above: Cadets Saluting Our Veterans at the 2014 Wreaths Across America Ceremony

WASHINGTON

COMPOSITE

SQUADRON 601

Founded in July of

2007 at the Wash-

ington County Air-

port, National Guard

Base, this unit meets

at the Washington

Flyers Club each

Wednesday night at

1900 hrs.