Dec 15, 2015 3 min read

Washington County Composite Squadron 601 of the Civil Air Patrol recently celebrated the 74th anniversary of CAP with a Cadet Change of Command Ceremony and Awards Banquet.

Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Zachary Keyes of Canonsburg assumed command of the squadron, and Cadet 1st Lt. Collin Page of Washington made his final remarks as outgoing commander.

Page also was promoted to first lieutenant and awarded the Community Service Award. The award is given to members who have completed at least 60 hours of community service. Page has gone above and beyond that requirement, having already dedicated more than 120 hours to the community.

“Community service is giving back to our local community in payment for what we take from it,” Page said. “Without us giving back, the

community would starve for help to replenish its resources.”

A number of other honors were awarded to various squadron members during the ceremony. Award winners were:

• Cadet 2nd Lt. Zachary Kagle of Burgettstown, who received the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award, a milestone award that is earned after completion of the first eight achievements in the cadet program. Cadets who receive the award also are eligible for advanced placement to the grade of E-3 should they choose to enter the U.S. Air Force. Kagle also received the Air Force Association Squadron Cadet of the Year Award.

• Cadet Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Soyring of Canonsburg, who received the Eddie Rickenbacker Achievement Award and was promoted to

technical sergeant.

• Cadet Senior Airman Joshua Sheppard of Washington, who received the Cadet of the Year Award.

• Keyes, who was named Cadet NCO of the Year.

• First Lt. Samuel Soyring, who was named Senior Member of the Year.

“Each year we reward our fellow squadron members for going above and beyond in service to our squadron and community,” said Capt. Nancy Parker, squadron commander. “It is always an honor to be chosen for such recognition. I am proud to work with such a great group of people.”

The following cadets were recognized at a smaller promotions ceremony in November: Cadet Airman 1st Class Caleb Heckler of Marianna, who received the General “Hap” Arnold Achievement Award; Cadet Master Sgt. Daniel Salai of Wind Ridge, the Charles A. Lindbergh Achievement Award; Cadet Senior Airman Joshua Sheppard of Washington, the Mary Feik Achievement Award; and Cadet 1st Lt. Raeann Silassy of Canonsburg, who was promoted to first lieutenant.

As a whole, the Washington Composite Squadron received the Quality Cadet Unit Award, a national honor given to cadet units that display strong program fundamentals.