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Minn. squadron welcomes more than 150 to awards event
Northland Composite Squadrn stages 15th annual 'Dining Out'
November 21, 2006
2nd Lt. Robin Helgager
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| The Northland Composite Squadron Color Guard -- cadets Eric Heinonen, Ethan Helgager, Kayla Sundquist and Trenton Edgell -- makes its inaugural appearance at the squadron's annual Dining Out evening. |
Deputy Commander for Cadets
Northland Composite Squadron
Minnesota Wing
MINNESOTA -- The Northland Composite squadron
recently held its 15th annual Dining Out evening at the Bemidji American Legion, handing out an array of awards and drawing more than 150 guests from across Minnesota and South Dakota.
Those in attendance included state Civil Air Patrol members and staff, politicians and a wide range of community leaders.
The evening began with Cadet Lt. Col. Nathan Wozniak and Officer Chris Zempel greeting the guests as they entered the American Legion. The guests were then escorted to the lower level for the social hour, with Cadet Staff Sgt. Ethan Helgager and Cadet Airman 1st Class Kayla Sundquist snapping to attention as each guest passed their post.
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Cadet Lt. Col. Nathan Wozniak and Amy Pierson wait to greet guests. |
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At 6 p.m. the head table dignitaries were seated, including Bill Willis, Minnesota CAP state director; squadron Chaplain Hyle Anderson; Maj. Dave Odette, Minnesota Wing Group 1 commander; Capt. Terrance Best, squadron commander; Col. Stephen Miller, Minnesota CAP commander; Capt. Kenneth Hartwig, Northland squadron communications officer, Squadron Cadet Commander Molly Best; and Ron Butler, first vice president of the Bemidji American Legion.
The Cadet Color Guard -- Cadet Staff Sgt. Ethan Helgager, Cadet Airman 1st Class Kayla Sundquist, Cadet Airman 1st Class Eric Heinonen and Cadet Airman Trenton Edgell -- then presented the colors in their first official act as a newly formed color guard.
As guest speaker, Miller, the state CAP commander, discussed the importance of leadership and what a great leader looks like. He challenged the cadets to become the leaders of tomorrow in whatever field they pursued.
Best, commander of the Northland squadron, took the podium and spoke of the unit's remarkable year.
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The squadron began the year with four officers and four cadets and was in danger of losing its charter because of low attendance. To date membership has expanded to 18 cadets and 23 officers, a surge Best attributed to the number of parents involved weekly in the program.
Hartwig led a moving tribute to the POW’s, MIA’s and KIA’s as he stood by the “Table of One”. As master of ceremonies, Willis, the CAP state director, led the room with toasts to the country, its leaders and the men and women in the armed forces.
The awards program began with cadet honors:
Hartwig was honored for his years of service to the program with the proclamation that the Cadet of the Year Award would now be called the “Kenneth Hartwig Award.”
The coveted Air Force Association Award and the Mitchell Award went to Molly Best.
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| Cadet Staff Sgt. Ethan Helgager and Cadet Airman 1st Class Trenton Edgell stand ready to greet guests for social hour. | Officer awards were presented to:
- Hartwig and 1st Lt. Steve McGuirk for their work in Fund-Raising.
- The Chaplain Appreciation Award -- Hyle Anderson.
- The Extra Mile Award -- Maj. Dave Odom and Capt. Paulette Odette.
- Senior of the Year -- 2nd Lt. Robin Helgager.
In a show of support for the squadron commander, Willis asked Best to the front of the room. The four squadron members in attendance when Best took command one year ago came up and stood next to him. Then the 36 who have joined since then came forward.
A Commander's Appreciation Plaque was then passed down the line by each member to Hartwig, who presented the award to Best amid a standing ovation.
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