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About the Sea Cadets
Sea Cadet organizations
exist in most of the maritime nations of the world. Recognizing the value
of these organizations in educating youth in maritime matters, the Department
of the Navy requested the Navy League of the United States to establish
a similar program for American youth. The Navy League agreed to do so
and formally established the Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) and Navy League
Cadet Corps (NLCC) in 1958.
The
basic objectives of both programs are: (1) to help young Americans
become more patriotic and responsible citizens, and (2) to help
young Americans understand the role of the maritime services
in national defense and in maintaining the economic viability of
our nation.
On
September 10, 1962, the NSCC was federally incorporated by Congress
under Public Law 87-655 as a non-profit civilian education organization,
a legal entity separate from the Navy League. This law was later
amended to permit enrollment of young women in the Corps. The objectives
and purposes of the NSCC as in this law (as amended) are: "...through
organization and cooperation with the Department of the Navy, to
encourage and aid American youth to develop, train them in seagoing
skills, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance and
kindred virtues."
Today, the NSCC has formed partnerships with organizations such as the Foundation for Teaching Economics and the Flying Midshipman Association to offer cadets broader opportunities in areas of leadership and aviation. The NSCC also took an active part in the creation of the International Sea Cadet Association (ISCA). The ISCA is an association of Sea Cadet Corps' from around the world, whose main objective is to facilitate exchanges of cadets between member countries.
HONORING FORGOTTEN WARRIORS
SANTA BARBARA SEA CADETS RENDER HONORS
AT THE MUSUEM OF THE FORGOTTEN WARRIORS
May 19, 2006, Santa Barbara, Calif. – Striking out in the pre-dawn hours, 17 cadets and six officers of AIRPAC, Santa Barbara’s Sea Cadet Squadron, set sail to Marysville California. Their mission was to attend the Armed Services Day ceremony at the Museum of the Forgotten Warriors. Armed Services Day is a day intended to render a sharp salute to the men and women in all branches of the military service who protect us and our country. The officers and cadets were proud to make the seven-hour trip north from Santa Barbara to render that “sharp salute” in the form of a Military Color Guard with Honor Guard. “We're here to honor our vets”, said AIRPAC Commanding Officer LT Chuck Eskew. “Our unit will go anywhere within means to do that.”
AIRPAC Arriving
Upon our arrival, Dann Spear, the founder and curator of the Museum of the Forgotten Warriors, provided us an overview of the museum. He explained that the museum is a collection of pictures, letters, news clippings, uniforms, patches, insignias and weapons donated over the years from veterans, their families and their friends. He said that he had been collecting military memorabilia since he was 11 years old. In 1972, as a sophomore in high school, he began collecting military patches sent back from his school mates then serving in Vietnam. “When the war ended in 1975 and the soldiers came home”, Dann emotionally shared, “there were no parades or heroes welcome for these men and women.” Dann continued, “Nobody wanted to know about Vietnam and nobody (the vets) wanted to talk about it. We were a nation pulled apart by the war -- and that is when I began building this tribute to the forgotten warriors of the Vietnam War.”
Museum Founder, Dan Spear and AIRPAC’s Commanding Officer, LT Chuck Eskew
Walking the Past
Entering the museum was like stepping through a time portal. We were immediately thrown back in time -- to the Vietnam War era. The light was dim. There was a thick damp musty smell of age in this bunker-like environment. Time stood still, anchored in the late 60’s and early 70’s. We ambled up and down the isles in reverent silence studying the collection of pictures, letters, news clippings, uniforms, patches, insignias and weapons. We were awed by the thought that there are stories attached to each and every item in the museum. We could have easily spent the day reading the stories which Dann had painstakingly crafted on the cards that accompanied the displays. We quickly realized that this museum was not a collection of things, but rather a compilation of soldiers and their war experiences. Although there were other wars represented (Korea, WW II, Desert Storm, and Iraqi Freedom), clearly the focus was on Vietnam. Exiting the museum, we were somehow a little different for the experience. Rather than a bunker, the Museum of the Forgotten Warriors now seemed more like a shrine – a place to meditate.
During Saturday’s activities, both officers and cadets mingled freely with the numerous guests attending the ceremony. They especially enjoyed talking with the vets. Curious to see young ladies and gentlemen attired in naval uniforms, the vets would go out of their way to meet the cadets and really enjoyed sharing with them their military experiences. Each vet, or friend or family member of a vet, had their own personal story to share, and they shared freely. Behind each story, one could sense the pervasive pride and thinly-veiled emotion that remained – in some cases, even 55 years later. The cadets were repeatedly thanked for their attendance by nearly everyone they met. One AIRPAC cadet, remarked, “They thank us, but it's really my honor to be here and to be wearing the uniform for which they fought. It is they who should be thanked for fighting, not us for coming.”
Trooping the Line
As with many visiting dignitaries, AIRPAC provides them the opportunity to troop the line. “We walk around and inspect the Cadets together”, says LT Eskew. “It gives each cadet a little special time with our visitor, and it gives our visitor an opportunity to inspect and question the cadets.” The VIP attending the day’s ceremony was Congressman Wally Herger, 20 year member of the House of Representatives from the Second Congressional District in Northern California. Trooping the line at the museum, Congressman Herger congratulated the cadets for their military decorum and for conducting an emotion-filled honor ceremony.
Forming up for Congressman Herger, AIRPAC Cadets anxiously
await their inspection.
Rendering Honors
As a nation, we have long observed some very formalized rituals as a means of affording our very highest honors to members of the armed forces, particularly those who have fallen in wartime. Military Color Guards and Honor Guards are two of these rituals by which we honor and acknowledge our gratitude to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. In the military, the color guard is typically a small number of soldiers (four to five soldiers is common) charged with protecting the flag and performing flag raising or lowering ceremonies.
The Santa Barbara Sea Cadets performed a Color Guard with Honor Guard Ceremony in honor of the gallant men and women who had served and sacrificed for our Nation in Vietnam.
It was a very special time for the AIRPAC Sea Cadets. The mood was somber and respectful. The Cadets were inspired and proud of there unit and a sense of shared camaraderie with the veterans.
Special Thanks to the Santa Barbara Navy League
The officers and cadets of Santa Barbara AIRPAC Squadron wish to convey their thanks and appreciation to the Santa Barbara Navy League. In no uncertain terms, it should be noted that only through their continued and unwavering support that AIRPAC was able to undertake this trip to Marysville and provide this priceless experience to the cadets.
Museum of the Forgotten Warriors
Dann Spear does not seek publicity, or funding for his museum. He does it all in the spirit of giving something back to those who have given so much to this country. He does rely on word of mouth to reach the veterans for which this museum was created. Should anyone have questions or wish to learn more about the Museum of the Forgotten Warriors, please feel free to contact Dann Spear at 530-742-3090.
This article is an excerpt from the AIRPAC JOURNAL entitled, HONORING FORGOTTEN WARRIORS – SANTA BARBARA SEA CADETS RENDER HONORS AT THE MUSUEM OF THE FORGOTTEN WARRIORS. The journal memorializes AIRPAC’s trip to The Museum of the Forgotten Warriors, Marysville, California. It is a collection of thoughts, photographs, and other impressions of the two day journey to render honors to local veterans and to all of the men and women in all branches of the service who protect us and our country. Anyone who would like to receive a copy of the journal, please contact the AIRPAC PAO, Jeff Modic at, jmodic@svinet.com.
All Members are invited to attend any of the monthly drills of the Unit and as usual we are looking for new cadets, age 11-17. Contact Commanding Officer Chuck Eskew at 805-901-0336 or airpacone@sbcglobal.net .
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Contact the Sea Cadets
If you'd like to learn more about the Sea Cadets and/or apply for membership, please contact:
LT Chuck Eskew
Commanding Officer, AIRPAC Sqdn
Phone: 805-901-0336
Email: airpacone@sbcglobal.net
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