Civil Air Patrol members attend Operation Welcome Home

Linthicum, Md. – Members of the Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron welcome troops home on Christmas Eve morning.

By: Christopher Roche, Lt Col, CAP

Squadron Commander – Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron

Fifteen members arrived at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to welcome active duty military personnel and their families coming home for Christmas. The flight originated at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany and arrived just after midnight on Christmas Eve. As service members exited the international terminal, they were greeted by rounds of applause and thanks for their service to our country. Most of the troops arriving into BWI were either stationed in Europe or returning from the Middle East.

For members of the squadron, it was a true honor to get a chance to recognize and support our troops.

This was the second time the squadron attended Operation Welcome Home. Seven members also attend on 19 December 2013.

Operation Welcome Home Maryland started in 2007 and has greeted more than 180,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guard service members.

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 72 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths

Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.

Nearly 1,700 CAP members serve in Maryland. Last year wing members flew 13 search and rescue missions. The wing was credited with five finds and one life saved. Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland. Members flew 2,106 hours in all mission categories. Volunteers contributed services estimated at $4.6 million. For more information contact the Maryland Wing at www.mdcap.org.

The Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron meets every Thursday from 1900-2100 at Martin State Airport. For information, visit www.glmcscap.org.

For information on Operation Welcome Home Maryland, visit www.operationwelcomehomemd.org.

Image #2:

Back row, L-R:
c/1Lt Wyatt Hartman
c/TSgt Anthony Cole
2Lt CJ Grebe
c/Maj Bart Bartgis
c/Capt Joseph Mancini
c/LtCol Michael Gentle
c/2Lt George Eliss
2Lt Nadine Hartman

Front row: L-R:
Lt Col Chris Roche
c/CMSgt Desirae Williams
c/Amn Justin Rallo
c/TSgt Steven Williams
c/SSgt Amber Williams
c/2Lt Dana Bartgis