CTWG: 399th Mitchell Awards and Congressional Citation

“Dignitaries Recognize Record Breaking Achievement”

Danbury, 27 January 2009:
On a cold winter night, surrounded by emergency equipment at a hanger at the Danbury Airport, distinguished guests met to recognize the achievements of local youth; the cadets of the Danbury 399th Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. Among the dignitaries present were Mayor Mark Boughton, State Representative Jan Giegler and State Representative MaryAnn Carson.

All of the dignitaries present expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the volunteer service provided by both the senior members (adults) and cadets (youth). They were pleased to recognize the Danbury unit of Civil Air Patrol, which in addition to the cadet program also stands ready to provide Emergency Services and Search & Rescue operations with their single engine airplanes in the air and search teams on the ground.

This night, five high school age cadets of the 399th were called to attention, each receiving the General Billy Mitchell Award for completion of a significant milestone in the CAP Cadet Program. The awards were presented by a team of local dignitaries including Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, State Representative Jan Giegler and State Representative MaryAnn Carson. The Mitchell Award marks the cadets’ promotion into the CAP Cadet Officer Corp and should they decide to enter the US Air Force, advanced status in rank and privilege. The awarding of five Mitchell awards at once is a record for the Connecticut CAP and a great credit to the Danbury Squadron.

The Cadets receiving the CAP General Billy Mitchell award were: Cadet 1st Lt Ryan Chapman of New Fairfield, CT; Cadet 2nd Lt Peter Foschi of Southbury, CT; Cadet 2nd Lt Willie Steers of Roxbury, CT; Cadet 2nd Lt Garrett Kennedy of Golden’s Bridge, NY and Cadet 2nd Lt Jon Wagner of Waccabuc, NY.

In addition to the Mitchell Awards, Representative Jan Giegler bestowed upon Cadet Major Ethan Zitzman of Southbury, CT a State Congressional Citation commemorating his service as Cadet Squadron Commander prior to his ‘passing of the colors’ to his replacement, Cadet 1st Lieutenant Ryan Chapman of New Fairfield, CT. Cadet Major Zitzman will move on to new challenges this fall as a first year cadet at the US Coast Guard Academy.