Iowa Proclamation Hails CAP's 79th Anniversary, Wing's Service

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds proclaimed has Dec. 1 as “Civil Air Patrol Day” to mark the organization’s 79th anniversary and recognize the value Iowa Wing members provide to the state and their communities.

The Cedar Rapids City Council likewise proclaimed “Civil Air Patrol Day. “ Similar proclamations have been made by the mayors of Dubuque, Waterloo Cedar Falls, and Burlington.

In August, volunteers from the Iowa, Illinois and Kansas wings flew 37 disaster relief sorties over Linn County and surrounding communities to document damage from the derecho storm. They delivered more than 4,500 photos of storm damage to state and local agencies, furthering the state’s application for a federal disaster declaration.

“The value of Civil Air Patrol to local communities is tangible,” said Col. Jonathan Lartigue, Iowa Wing commander. “CAP’s volunteers in Iowa give selflessly of their time each year responding to natural disasters, promoting aerospace and STEM education, and in inspiring leadership, character, academic excellence and physical fitness among our cadet members.

“The Iowa Wing continues to grow, and our members’ service will continue to make an impact both for the state and in local communities,” Lartigue said.

CAP was founded Dec. 1, 1941, by a group of aviation enthusiasts and private pilots who wanted to donate their time and aircraft to protect the nation’s coastlines and perform other critical civil defense missions. Their volunteer service was recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.