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The Martinsburg and Bowie composite squadron members who marched in the parade.
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U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia tries out the DDR mini-jet.
Photos by Col. Dennis D. Barron, West Virginia Wing
Col. Dennis D. Barron
Commander
West Virginia Wing
WEST VIRGINIA – Members of the West Virginia Wing’s Martinsburg Composite Squadron and their Maryland Wing counterparts in the Bowie Composite Squadron joined forces Oct. 20 to publicize their drug demand reduction programs in the Grand Feature Parade of Martinsburg’s Apple Harvest Festival.
The combined entry consisted of the Martinsburg squadron’s color guard, which led the 195 units participating in the parade, followed by the unit’s drug demand reduction banner, National Headquarters’ DDR truck and the DDR mini-jet.
Also accompanying the group was “Eddie Eagle,” who has become a symbol of the anti-drug program.
In addition, 12 cadets walked alongside the truck and mini-jet handing out DDR red ribbons to many of the approximately 15,000 onlookers lining the 2½-mile parade route.
The group drew generous applause and very favorable comments from observers, and the announcer at the judges’ stand mentioned the DDR program’s theme and lauded the members for their mission.
Best of all, the squadron won the $100 first place prize in the parade’s “Special Units” Division of the parade.
At the end of the event, the group was met by U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, who personally thanked all the members for serving as such an outstanding example to other youth groups. Capito posed for photographs with the group and even sat in the DDR mini-jet for a photo
