Cass County Composite Abounds in Honor Guards
Posted by Tammi Miller, Capt. on Monday, 6/16/2008
The Cass County Honor Guard has been requested by some rather impressive organizations within the past couple of months, bringing their live viewing audience to over 1 million people within the past four years. The Kansas City Royals Baseball organization invited the cadet Honor Guard for opening ceremonies at the April 12, 2008 game against the Minnesota Twins to a sold-out crowd. The Guard continued their service to the Royals on April 22, 23, and 24 as the Royals went head to head against the Cleveland Indians. The Cass County Honor Guard has been scheduled to assist throughout the summer months for the major league baseball team.
Another impressive opportunity for the Honor Guard was the racing events at the Kansas Speedway on April 25, 26, and 27, 2008. Cadets provided the colors before hundreds of spectators, the drivers and their crews for the exciting racing events. The Kansas City Star newspaper devoted the ‘C’ section of its article “Indy Racing: A to Z” to the Cass County Honor Guard’s service to the Speedway and to the Royals. The weekend consisted of the URL and the Indy Car races.
An occasion to honor one of our own is at the high school graduation of C/Capt. Kenna Eggenberger on Saturday, May 10. The Honor Guard was chosen to serve during the opening ceremonies for the home school graduation held before hundreds of families and friends of the honored graduates.
Locally, the South Kansas City Moose Under 18 boys baseball team recruited the Honor Guard to present the colors at five of their summer games held in Harrisonville, MO. At the June 12, 2008 game, the team presented the Honor Guard with a signed baseball from the team. Moose Coach Scott Maid said, “ You bring real class to this event.
Honor Guard members included: C/Amn Jonathan Fairchild, C/Amn Malachi Hargis, C/2Lt Jordan Hargis, C/MSgt Austin Hooper, C/MSgt Aaron Hooper, C/1Lt Kenna Eggenberger, C/MSgt Karra Miller, C/2Lt Lucas Eggenberger, C/MSgt Abrum Kennedy, C/MSgt Joshua Hargis, C/SrA Genesis Martinez, C/Amn Muriel Eaton, C/Amn Zach Bartlett, and C/2Lt Aubry Eaton.

Cass County Drill Team Heads to Nationals
Posted by Tammi Miller, Capt. on Monday, 6/16/2008
The Cass County Drill Team savored the moment when, after hours and hours of practice and preparation, the Cass County team, representing the Missouri Wing, received first place in the North Central Region Cadet Competition on Saturday, April 19, 2008, at Camp Offutt in Nebraska. The nail-biting competition was tough to gauge as the drill teams vied for the winning title. The cadets were rallied throughout the day by over a dozen family members who traveled the four hour drive to encourage the cadet team. The winning drill team earned the opportunity to participate in the National Cadet Competition in Dayton, Ohio near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on June 27-29. Additional awards presented to Cass County cadets were: C/1Lt Michael Hargis, the highest score on the written test; C/2Lt Lucas Eggenberger, Outstanding Cadet; C/A1C Genesis Martinez, Drill Team Fleet Foot Award for the female with the fastest mile time. Escorts and cadets ended the winning weekend with a trip to the Strategic Air Command Museum. Cadet competition team members are: C/Amn Trenton Eckerle, C/2Lt Lucas Eggenberger, C/Amn Jonathan Fairchild, C/SSgt Blake Goodman, C/Amn Joshua Goodman, C/Amn Zachary Goodman, C/2Lt Jordan Hargis, C/1Lt Michael Hargis, C/MSgt Aaron Hooper, C/MSgt Austin Hooper, C/MSgt Abrum Kennedy, C/A1C Genesis Martinez, and C/MSgt Karra Miller. Instructors for the team were Capt. Melinda Berry and Capt. Tammi Miller. Escorts attending were Major Tony Belto, Sgt. Mike Mudry, Lt. Carla Hargis, and Lt. Mark Miller, and C/Capt. Kenna Eggenberger.

Cass County Assists KC Blue River Stream Team
Posted by Tammi Miller, Capt. on Tuesday, 4/22/2008
Cadets and senior members of the Cass County Composite Squadron assisted for the third year in the Kansas City Project Blue River Rescue, sponsored by Stream Team #175 – The Friends of Lakeside Nature Center. Mountains of trash were collected from where the Blue River meets the Missouri River by hundreds of volunteers throughout the Kansas City area. Cadets and senior members encountered baby snakes and dead animals as well as trash throughout the day. Several hundred pounds of debris were gathered at various spots throughout the designated collection area. Organizers provided gloves, trash bags, and lunch for the community outreach annual event. Cass County participants included: C/2Lt Jordan Hargis, C/1Lt Michael Hargis, C/Amn Malachi Hargis, C/2Lt Lucas Eggenberger, C/MSgt Aaron Hooper, C/MSgt Austin Hooper, C/A1C Josh Goodman, C/Amn Zach Goodman, C/SSgt Blake Goodman, C/A1C Jonathan Fairchild, C/Amn Trenton Eckerle, C/A1C Genesis Martinez, C/MSgt Karra Miller, C/MSgt Abrum Kennedy, Major Tony Belto, Capt. Melinda Berry, Capt. Tammi Miller, and MSgt Mike Mudry,.

Rep. Scavuzzo Honored by Cass County Composite
Posted by Tammi Miller, Capt. on Tuesday, 3/18/2008
Missouri Representative Luke Scavuzzo was honored by the Cass County Composite Squadron recently when the squadron presented him with his official Legislative Membership certificate and pocket badge. The Missouri Legislative Squadron is the largest Civil Air Patrol squadron in the state with every member of the Missouri Congress in membership. Participation in the Legislative Squadron allows our distinguished Congressional members to enter as a Major in grade, and each member is encouraged to participate in the Missouri CAP program. “It is a great marriage because it enables the Legislation to see what Civil Air Patrol has to offer and what we can do for the state, and in turn, the Legislators can assist by creating legislation to protect our members in volunteer service,” said Cass County Squadron Commander Major Tony Belto. Missouri Wing Commander John Mais awarded Representative Scavuzzo his materials with the Cass County cadet and senior member staff present.

CCCS Cadet Attends Civic Leadership Academy in DC
Posted by Tammi Miller, Capt. on Tuesday, 3/11/2008
C/1Lt Michael Hargis, the Cadet Executive Officer for the Cass County Composite Squadron, earned his way to attend the Civic Leadership Academy in Washington D.C., a very prestigious Civil Air Patrol national activity. Three cadets from each region are chosen, totaling twenty-four cadets being selected throughout the United States. Cadets shadowed their Wing commanders, such as the Missouri Wing Commander Col. John Mais, throughout the week as they connected with our government’s leaders. C/Lt. Hargis reported to his squadron peers that all cadets should aim for the Civic Leadership Academy when they have the opportunity. His view of the United States government’s intricate workings was broadened after spending daily briefings with a variety of government officials, secretaries and diplomats. According to C/Lt. Hargis, meeting with his United States Representative, Mr. Ike Skelton, was the cadet’s most influential highlight of the week. Mr. Skelton responded positively to the Civic Leadership Academy’s purpose and to the mission of CAP as a whole. Meeting Mary Feik and touring the Museum at the State Department were also high spots for C/Lt. Hargis’ week in our nation’s capital. When asked to describe the week, he relied, “It’s awesome.”