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For 65 Years:

Dec. 1, 2006

The Air Force’s official auxiliary force of volunteers—the Civil Air Patrol—will kick off today at noon (EST) a yearlong celebration of its founding on Dec. 1, 1941, by holding a nationwide moment of silence. For 65 years, CAP volunteers have supported the Air Force and its predecessors. Today, CAP—comprising some 57,000 members—conducts 95 percent of the continental US inland search and rescue missions tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. CAP members also help with homeland security and disaster relief missions.

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