WHEREAS, The Civil Air Patrol was born on December 1, 1941, just days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, for the purposes of liaison flying and interdiction of infiltrators on the east coast and the southern border of the United States, and the Civil Air Patrol insignia, a red three-bladed propeller in the Civil Defense white-triangle-in-blue-circle, began appearing everywhere; and
     WHEREAS, When German submarines began to prey on American ships, the Civil Air Patrol's mission grew to include a 1,000-member coastal patrol, 64 of whom died in service and 26 of whom were lost at sea; and
     WHEREAS, After Civil Air Patrol planes were issued bombs and depth charges in response to a crew watching in vain as a grounded sub off Cape Canaveral, Florida, escaped before the military arrived, the Civil Air Patrol Coastal flew 24 million miles and found 173 subs, attacked 57, hit 10, and sank two; and
     WHEREAS, By presidential executive order, the Civil Air Patrol became an auxiliary of the Army Air Force on April 28, 1943, and some months later the Germans withdrew coastal U-boat operations "because of those damned little red and yellow airplanes"; and
     WHEREAS, The Civil Air Patrol went on to target-towing operations, courier service for the Army, liaison and cargo flights between war plants, and southern border patrol against enemy infiltrators crossing from Mexico, and air, search and rescue, and nonflying Civil Air Patrol members guarded airfields and trained a rapidly growing corps of Civil Air Patrol cadets; and
     WHEREAS, During the postwar years, the Civil Air Patrol was put to work in search and rescue missions, saving the United States millions of dollars in operational costs, because there was no other organization with the equipment and training to continue this vital job as military aircraft was far too expensive to operate and flew too fast to accurately spot downed planes and personnel; and
     WHEREAS, During floods and other natural disasters, the Civil Air Patrol has flown vital serum and vaccines to areas unreachable by heavier aircraft, and ground teams have helped in the evacuation of cities and towns; and
     WHEREAS, In 2012, over one hundred air crews from three Civil Air Patrol regions began conducting a post-Hurricane Sandy aerial photo mission, the largest in Civil Air Patrol history, covering more than 300 miles of coastline from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Cape May, New Jersey, and taking more than 120,000 photos for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which used the images for damage assessment; and
     WHEREAS, Civil Air Patrol members from three counties in Indiana assisted the Federal Emergency Management Agency alongside neighbors, citizen volunteers, and emergency response workers throughout the night and into the daylight hours, searching vehicles and outdoor areas for victims after a rash of tornadoes devastated the area in 2011; and
     WHEREAS, The Civil Air Patrol has a cadet program with over 26,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 20, one of its major attractions being the aerospace program which provides both classroom and practical instruction in flight and rocketry, and each cadet is offered the opportunity to participate in orientation flights in both powered and glider aircraft, while learning search and rescue techniques and many other valuable skills, with an emphasis on military history, leadership, and service to others both within the squadron and the community as a whole; and
     WHEREAS, On May 18, 1980, when Mt. St. Helens in Washington state exploded, devastating approximately 150 square miles and triggering massive mud flows, floods, and ash fall, the Civil Air Patrol quickly responded to the county sheriff's request for help by establishing a 24-hour headquarters, aiding search and rescue missions, updating weather advisories, and assisting in ash cleanup; and
     WHEREAS, Today's Civil Air Patrol continues its service and commitment to our state and country with three primary missions: Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs, and Emergency Services; and
     WHEREAS, In Washington state alone, the Civil Air Patrol is composed of approximately 800 senior members and approximately 730 cadets, who in 2011 flew their eleven aircraft 2,578.8 hours in service to our state, at a value of 3 million dollars in volunteer hours, and, primarily for cadet aerospace education, their Washington state gliders flew 658 sorties;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington state Senate recognize the Washington state wing of the Civil Air Patrol for its courageous and unwavering dedication to our citizens; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Civil Air Patrol Wing Commander, Colonel David Lehman, and to Civil Air Patrol Colonel Theodore Tax.