The Sidney herald., 1957-05-09
Homer Corder
Talks To Kiiwanis
Club On CAP
SPEAKER At WEEKLY
MEETING. APRIL 25th

Chairman President AL and
fellow Kiwanians, 1 want to dis
cuss with you today as part OF
the observance of the 50th an
niversary Of United States Air
Power. the great test facing all
of us and the keys to preserving
our way of life through under
standing and education.
When asked to present the
CAP story to Kiwanis, l debated
for some time as to a subject
which would appeal to you pri-
marily as parents and public
spirited men interested in youth
activities and vocation guidance
secondarily to you who may al
ready be part of the Civil Air
Patrol program. Recognizing the
impact Of aviation education upon
our youth, l believe it is appro-
pirate to discuss aviation educa-
ton and airpower as the Civil
Air Patrol is the official auxiliary
of the Air Force and a member
of the Airpower team. / want to
talk with you today on these
concepts from both the practical
and patriotic viewpoint.
Many of you have already had
a sufficient introduction to CAP
and realize the nature of its or
~ganization. You are aware that it
is made up of civilian volunteers
who have as their primary mis-
sion the development of air SUI
premacy of America. You realize
that CAP members perform many
other missions such as search
and rescue and emergency COM
m~unications. For those of us here
today the most important part of
Civil Air Patrols program is its
relation to aviation education for
the youth of America as a whole
and what this education means
TO our national future.
The unwanted and unprovok-
ed cold war in which we are
engaged places us in a different
situation from any we have ever
known before. 1t is the great test
to determine whether or not we
have the understanding, desire
and the stamina to defend our
free way of life and remain free.
Whether or not we remain so
depends to a great extent upon
how we develop and s the
airplane as an instrument Of
power and commerce. Airpower
can well determine the outcome
of the cold war, and any shoot
ing war as well.
In a democracy the ability of
a people to use an airplane de-
ponds basically on their under
standing of its Importance and
its potentialities, and w~holeheart-
ed support of the development of
aviation. The tragedy is that tech
meal achievement in the air has
shrunk the size of the world fas-
ter than mankind has learned to
cope with it and live at peace.
The airplane is the factor which
makes the world a truly round
and equal earth where all men
live as equals or it can be the
instrument for the enslavement
and ultimate destruction Of the
world. This is the challenge and
the basic choice facing all Of us
today.
Citizenship responsibility today
includes the understanding Of the
air power concept 50 that proper
support will be given to research,
to the aviation industry, to air.
port construction, to aviation
training and education, a strong
air force and the Civil Air Pa
In a democracy, understanding
is a force which Is paramount to
the defense of our country. In
this nation we have a problem
the problem of bringing about an
understanding of airpower. The
Civil Air Patrol has done much
in this effort. 1t is one of the
leaders in the development of
aviation education throughout the
country along with other far-seek-
ing educational and national or
CARNATIONS.
Unfortunately, much remains to
be done to gain adequate public
recognition of the value of avia-
ton education. The CAP is one
of far too few organizations
has sought to devise and
put into effect programs to fit
today's teen-agers for the world
in which they live and will live.
Much has been said about the !