Vol.

1 Issue 13

Asheville CAP cadets place Wreaths

By 1st Lt. Clint Parker Christmas is a time for family and friends, but its also a time to be thankful for those that have served our country and are no longer with us. In order to show a nations thankfulness during the Christmas season, across the nation hundreds of thousands of wreaths were laid on the final resting place of those who have served their country on Saturday, December 12. The event is known as Wreaths Across America. The Asheville Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol took part in one such wreath laying ceremony at the Black Mountain Veterans Cemetery on 962 Old Hwy. 70 East in the Swannanoa/Black Mountain area at 12 noon on Saturday. Cadets from the squadron laid more than 80 wreaths during the event, carried special wreaths during the ceremony and was asked to help with the 21 gun salute. Senior members also took part in special wreath placing during the event. This was the second year that the Asheville CAP has taken part in the nationwide event.

Gazette
the gumby
Semper Gumby

December 2009 - January 2010

See more pictures on Page 2 from the event

Cadet Lt. Christian Sluder pays respects before laying a wreath.

Scenes from Wreaths Across America event

Aircrews undergo intensive training

By 1st Lt. Clint Parker Aircrew training is something all CAP members do if they want to be part of a team that flies aloft on search missions. Air crew training has been a part of senior members monthly training routine at the Asheville Squadron, in the last several months crews have been undergoing a more intensive training in order to sharpen skills and become more proficient at their jobs. One Saturday in January, aircrew members met at the Lacy Griffin Building for an all day training session that include lessons in calculating miles to target, time in en route to target, search techniques, fuel need for missions and honing preflight procedures in order to expedite readying the aircraft for flight. More than 15 pilots, mission observers and scanner and trainees met for more than six hours to learn from Lt. Col. Matt Urbanek how to manage crew resources more efficiently as well as other skills needed to become better members of the all important company of CAP volunteers that take to the sky in order to serve their communities as well as country. Capt. Richard Bow listens intently during training.

Creator of Gumby dies

By Lt. Clint Parker The Los Angeles Times has reported, that Art Clokey, the creator of the whimsical clay figure Gumby, died in his sleep Friday at his home in Los Osos, Calif., after battling repeated bladder infections, his son Joseph said. He was 88. The Asheville Composite Squadron years ago adopted the little green character as our squadrons mascot to represent the squadrons flexibility in adapting to changes in its missions, events and problems that the group encounters. We just want to thank Clokey for his creation and send our heart felt condolences to his family for their loss. The LA Times also reports, The filmmakers work enchanted generations of children...Clokey and his wife, Ruth, invented Gumby in the early 1950s.. After an initial run..,Gumby enjoyed comebacks in the 1960s as a bendable childrens toy, in the 1980s after comedian Eddie Murphy parodied the kindly Gumby as a crass, cigar-in-themouth character in a skit for Saturday Night Live and again in the 90s with the release of Gumby the Movie. Today, Gumby is a cultural icon recognized around the world. It has more than 134,000 fans on Facebook, says the Times.

Capt. Arnie Andresen goes over the results of his tabletop exercise with the class.

Maj. Jim Styles and 2d Lt. Ralph Patterson work on a mission scenario.

Asheville has glorious Christmas party

By 1st Lt. Clint Parker If one word would be used to describe the 2009 Asheville Composite Squadrons Christmas Party it would have to be Glorious! Thats right just ask anyone who attended the festivities. The annual casual holiday event is loads of fun and this year was no different with good friends, fellowship and food. Squadron Commander Major Joe Weinflash was again this years MC doing a masterful job of making all laugh and present the coveted Gumby awards.