N.Y. members help ensure success of Kids Day at LaGuardia

 

 

(1)
Cadet Staff Sgt. Ryan Drayton of the Phoenix Composite Squadron answers a spectator’s questions about aircraft at the Kiwanis Club Kids Day at LaGuardia Airport.

(2)
A cadet explains Civil Air Patrol’s mission while Capt. Ray Miller of the Falcon Senior Squadron and others observe.

(3)
Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Zin Han of the Academy Cadet Squadron, stationed at the Piper Comanche flow in by Maj. Ray Bengen of the New York City Group.

(4)
The New York Wing contingent.
               
( 5,6)            
Cadets provide flight line marshalling.

Photos by 1st Lt. Louis Morgan


Capt. Michael Lee
Public Affairs Officer
New York City Group
New York Wing

NEW YORK – Members from six squadrons in the Long Island and New York City groups joined recently to assist with the annual Kiwanis Club Kids Day at LaGuardia Airport, with senior members flying in a pair of aircraft and cadets helping greet spectators and provide flight line marshalling.

The Civil Air Patrol participants came from the Academy, Amelia Earhart and Brooklyn Tech cadet squadrons, the Floyd Bennett and Phoenix composite squadrons and the New York City Group.

Piloting planes in were Maj. Ray Bengen, emergency services and operations officer for the New York City Group, and Maj. Daniel Rogers,  Brooklyn Tech Cadet Squadron commander.

In addition, Lt. Col. Marilyn Rey, director of aerospace education for the New York Wing, set up a string model aircraft, drawing a number of children to gather around to practice landing a model aircraft safely on a mock runway. Cadet Staff Sgt. Jason Chan of the Academy Cadet Squadron took the opportunity to jump right in and begin recruiting new cadets.

Maj. Manuel Ceja, New York City Group safety officer, also set up a display showing photos of a variety of CAP activities.

Midway through the afternoon, following a Port Authority request for flight line marshalling while certain aircraft took off, with the approval of the CAP officer in charge -- Capt. Valerie Ricchiuti of the New York City Group -- Capt. Michael Lee of the New York City Group immediately summoned almost all the cadets to perform. The team ensured that the flight line was clear of spectators

The cadets – who had undergone 30 minutes of flight line training that morning by Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Kleiver Gomez of the Earhart squadron -- did such a good job that they earned high praise both from Port Authority officials and from the Kiwanis Club.