BETHEL —  Officers in the 37th Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, Sundown Squadron, received promotions at a meeting held on Nov. 9 at Gould Academy.

Col. Dan Leclair, the Maine Wing Commander, was on hand to present the officers with their promotions. Leclair addressed the audience of cadets, family and friends who attended the promotion ceremony. He noted that there are several changes that are taking place in the Maine Wing that are resulting in many opportunities for Cadets and Senior Officers.

One of the opportunities is the return of the National Flight Academy that will be held in July at Camp Keyes in Augusta. The program allows cadets ages 16 and older to have classroom training and practical flying experience in learning to fly. Many of the cadets are able to fly solo before they return home.

Recently, the squadron added three pilots to their ranks. Leclair commended everyone on the accomplishment, which puts the squadron in a position to have an aircraft assigned to them in Western Maine. The Bethel Airport would become the part-time home of the airplane. Two of the pilots received promotions to Captain. All of the pilots bring thousands of hours of flying experience to the Sundown Squadron and the Maine Wing.

For further information on the Civil Air Patrol and the Sundown Squadron, contact Captain Joseph F. Roberts, squadron commander, at [email protected] or call 357-3782.