Marion Composite News

OCALA, FLORIDA - Col. Robert Schaetzl, Marion County Composite Squadron, retired from the Civil Air aPatrol after 55 years of uninterrupted service.

Schaetzl's CAP resume includes chief of staff in communications for the Northeast Region, Indiana Wing deputy commander, Michigan Wing commander, and the formation of the Marion County Composite Squadron in Florida. He is currently the president of the Air Force Association's Ocala Chapter.

Additionally, Schaetzl has received an outstanding service award from the Department of Defense, the AFA Medal of Merit, and CAP certificates of appreciation, a distinguished service medal and a meritorious service award.

FLORIDA - More than 200 cadets and senior members attended the Florida Wing conference that included a chaplains seminar and flight release officer class.

Col. Tony Pineda, Florida Wing commander, addressed the attendees during the general assembly before they dispersed to attend 30 seminars ranging from the incident command system to computer use.

Honorary guests at the banquet included: Col. Joseph Meighan Jr., Southeast Region commander; U.S. Air Force Col. Steve MacIsaac, MacDill Air Force Base; Lt. Col. Richard Valone, deputy wing commander; Col. Jerry Angley, Florida Wing liaison officer; Cadet Lt. Col. Michael Barron, cadet advisory council chairman; Chap. (Lt. Col.) Ralph Rivers; Lt. Col. Matt Sharkey, chief of staff; Maj. Robert Ashman, Group Three commander; and Capt. Eileen Parker, executive assistant.

Also attending the conference were: Maj. Frank Haas, Group Four commander; Maj. Steve Bell, Group Five commander; Maj. Jorge Del Rio, Group Six commander; Maj. William Lynch, Group Seven commander; Lt. Col. Henri Casenove and Col. Ernest Lewis, former Florida Wing commanders; and Col. Walt Schamel, Southeast Region director of operations.

Maj. Buddy Harris

THE VETERAN

It is the Veteran, not the reporter,
Who has given us Freedom of the Press;

It is the Veteran, not the poet,
Who has given us the Freedom of Speech;

It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer,
Who gave us the Freedom to Demonstrate;

It is the Veteran, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the Right to a Fair Trial;

It is the Veteran, Who Salutes the Flag,
Who Serves under the Flag, and
Whose coffin is draped by the Flag,
That Won and Protects Our FREEDOM.

Even though he was old and shaky, and his strength was failing, we often sat around the table listening to his stories of the past. The experiences of a war that he had fought in, and of how a soldier takes the good times with the bad.

To an uncaring generation, the old Veteran and his war stories were treated as a joke; but to his friends and neighbors, we listened with great interest, for he knew of what he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer, for the old Veteran has passed away, and our lives, and this Country are a little poorer, for a Veteran died today.

No, he won't be mourned by many, just his family and his friends; for he led an ordinary life, and just lent a helping hand when his Country asked.

It makes one wonder, why is it when actors, or singers leave this earth, their passing is mourned by thousands? Their death is noted and they are proclaimed as great - treating their life as if it were the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land. Why is so much praise and honor lauded on an individual so insincere and shallow?

Honors should be given to the ordinary citizen, who in times of war and strife, goes off to serve our Country and is willing to offer up his life to defend her!

He was more than just a common man, he was a Veteran, but the ranks of patriots like him are growing thin, and their presence should remind us we may need his likes again.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here for the praise, then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say...

AMERICA MOURNS THE PASSING OF A VETERAN.