Community Corner

Peters Residents Receive Special Awards Through Local Civil Air Patrol Squadron

The awards were presented earlier this month.

Three Peters Township members of the Civil Air Patrol’s Washington County Chapter received special congressional recognition from U.S. Rep. Timothy Murphy earlier this month, as well as awards from their squadron for their contributions to the community.

Washington Squadron 601 is a local unit of Civil Air Patrol, an all-volunteer, civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and a nonprofit organization that provides search and rescue, emergency services, youth programs, aerospace education and more to the Washington County area.

The awards were presented to the following Peters Township members at the annual banquet at the Washington Elks Lodge earlier this month:

  • Cadet Capt. Adam Parker, a junior at Peters Township High School and Cadet Commander of Washington Squadron 601, received the U.S. Air Force Association's annual Civil Air Patrol Outstanding Squadron Cadet of the Year Award for his exceptional achievements, leadership and commitment to his squadron. A member of Washington Squadron 601 since Oct. 2008, Parker has served as the squadron’s Cadet Advisory Council representative for Group One of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and was also appointed as a state CAC representative for CAP’s Pennsylvania Wing.
  • Cadet Second Lt. Tiffany Trunk, a senior at Peters Township High School, earned CAP’s General Billy Mitchell Award, which is presented after completing the first eight achievements of the CAP cadet program, and passing a 100 question exam testing leadership theory and aerospace topics. Awardees are eligible for advanced placement if they choose to enlist in the U.S. Air Force as well as advanced credit in the Air Force ROTC program. Trunk also received the first place CAP Balsem National Public Affairs award for her work with Wreaths Across America and raising awareness for our nation’s veterans. She has been a member of Washington Squadron 601 since July 2009.
  • Captain Nancy Parker, a resident of Peters Township and a teacher at Bower Hill Elementary School, received Washington Squadron 601’s Senior Member of the year for 2012. In addition, she was also presented with the Civil Air Patrol Achievement Award. A member of CAP since August 2009, both awards recognized Capt. Parker for her outstanding contributions to the unit, Civil Air Patrol and her community.

Capt. Edward Silassy, commander of Washington Squadron 601, said it's an honor to work with the group of individuals.

“Not only did these members go above and beyond as volunteers for their communities, but they continue to serve as outstanding examples to others in their squadron and Civil Air Patrol members across the country,” Silassy said.

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For more information on Squadron 601, go to www.squadron601.us. To learn more about CAP, go to www.gocivilairpatrol.com.


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