WHEREAS, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was founded on December 1, 1941, to supplement civilian defense organizations and the U.S. military during World War II; and

WHEREAS, in 1946 Congress incorporated CAP as a nonprofit, volunteer civilian organization to encourage and aid American citizens in the development of aviation and maintenance of air supremacy, foster volunteerism among private citizens, and provide aviation education and training to adults and youths; and

WHEREAS, in 1948 the CAP was designated as a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, tasked by the Secretary of the Air Force to fulfill noncombatant missions, including humanitarian and search and rescue missions; and

WHEREAS, in 2015 the CAP officially became a member of the Air Force's Total Force, joining the regular, National Guard, Air Force Reserve, civilian and auxiliary members as airmen when conducting missions for the Air Force; and

WHEREAS, the CAP has set itself apart during the country's most tumultuous times: deterring enemy submarine operations in World War II, supporting the Air Force's Ground Observer Corps; and

WHEREAS, the CAP fulfills three vital roles including: (1) assisting in homeland security missions to protect our nation's capital and the nation as a whole by assisting Air Force pilots with target-intercept training; (2) providing educational and growth opportunities for youth through its cadet program; and (3) reaching more than 1,800 educators and more than 200,000 youths in the classroom through the CAP's aerospace education program;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOE LOMBARDO, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim December 15, 2023 as

A DAY TO HONOR THE CIVIL AIR PATROL IN NEVADA