Madison Sea Cadets celebrate organization’s 50th anniversary

Captain Chris Kopang USN (Ret) guest speaker with Major Robert Demchak USAF (Ret). Instructor/Chief Cook Margaret Demchak is in the foreground.

  MADISON – The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps celebrated its 50^th anniversary on Sept. 10. In honor of this occasion, the Madison unit, NCB39 Battalion, put on a feast for guests from the Pen Bay Council, Navy League of the United State, the Military Officers Association of America and the American Legion Post 39. Honored guests included Rear Admiral Charles Rauch, USN (Ret), Captain Chris Kopang, USN (Ret.) and Mr. H. Ralph Withee, Commander, American Legion Post 39.
 Dinner was prepared by Margaret Demchak, a battalion instructor and chief cook, and served by the cadets of the battalion. Honored guests had a choice of a Scottish salmon or pork tenderloin dinner with all the trimmings. Dessert was a British specialty – raspberry trifle.

  The evening was opened with the formal rendering of colors to the American Flag and an invocation by Legion Commander Withee.

  After dinner, a short speech was given by Major Robert Demchak, USAF (Ret) Commanding Officer of the unit and the following awards were presented.

• LC-3 Connor Fennell was promoted to PO3.
• LC-3 Cole Mongeon received his Recruiter Ribbon.
• LC-3 Fennell, LC-3 Mongeon and LC-1 Wade Moak all received the Bronze Boot Appurtenance for completing League Boot Camp at Camp Niantic, CT.
• PO3 Kaitlyn Babin received her Honor Cadet Ribbon for her service as a League Cadet Boot Camp instructor at Camp Niatic, CT. She also received her Trident Appurtenance for completing the PADI Scuba Diving course this past July.

  Words of encouragement, praise and support were given by Captain Kopang, USN (Ret) to the entire Battalion. The evening was then closed with the formal rendering of honors to the American Flag

   For information about the Sea Cadet program visit http://ncb39bn.sharepoint.com.