Civil Air Patrol wins Best Marching Unit in the New Fairfield July 4th Parade

NEW FAIRFIELD, Conn. - July 6, 2015 - PRLog -- Members of Civil Air Patrol’s 801st Cadet Squadron (New Fairfield) and 399th Composite Squadron (Danbury) marched in the New Fairfield Lion’s Club July 4th Parade. The combined contingent received the “Best Marching Unit” trophy.

Cadet First Lieutenant Anthony Berardo, Cadet Commander of the 801st, directed the CAP marchers as the parade kicked off at 9:30 a.m. just north of New Fairfield’s town center on Route 37. The CAP Color Guard Team, manned by 801st Cadet Squadron cadets Second Lieutenant Brian Consiglio, Chief Master Sergeant Liam McGrath, Technical Sergeant James Byers, and Senior Airman Jorge Wismar, led the contingent. Participants proceeded south to the center of town to the cheers of hundreds of spectators who waved American flags and cheered the marchers on. The parade then turned onto Route 39 and terminated at Memorial Field where hot dogs and beverages were served to marchers, gratis of the New Fairfield Lion’s Club.

After the invocation and speeches the Lion’s Club awarded various trophies to participants. Connecticut Wing Commander, Colonel Ken Chapman, accepted the “Best Marching Unit” trophy on behalf of the Civil Air Patrol contingent.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. Its unpaid professionals also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 26,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for 73 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans.

To learn more visit:

399th Composite Squadron at http://www.facebook.com/399DanburyCAP

801st Cadet Squadron at http://www.facebook.com/801stcadetsquadcap