Local Cadet Commander Suggests Weekly Meeting Be Canceled In Observance of 9/11

by ANN Staff

New Mexico Wing — In a bold act of historical reverence, a local Civil Air Patrol Cadet Commander emailed senior staff to ask whether the unit’s weekly meeting should be canceled “because of 9/11.”

When told no, the Cadet quickly pivoted to a compromise position: a solemn moment of silence.

“Of course. A moment of silence,” said Captain Mitchell Candy the Deputy Commander for Cadets, shaking his head. “For something they didn’t even live through. They’re going to stand there looking serious—just like we did as Cadets for Pearl Harbor and the Chosin Reservoir and the Ia Drang Valley. Oh wait, we didn’t. We were too busy trying not to set the meeting room on fire cooking ramen over a can of Sterno.”

Another older officer added: “This isn’t their experience—it’s just them copying the adults around them. Folks have been stuck on 9/11 for 20 years. Specials on TV, airport speeches, bumper stickers, hashtags… it’s like a whole industry to make sure nobody ever moves on. Now the kids think they’re supposed to embrace it too.”

Younger Senior members, however, were quick to back the Cadets. “I was in third grade on 9/11,” said one captain. “I remember the teacher wheeling in the TV. So yeah, it hits me hard every year. I think it’s great the Cadets want to honor my trauma, even if they weren’t alive for it.”

Another Senior chimed in: “Canceling the meeting would’ve been really meaningful, but a moment of silence is still good. Honestly, if they wanted to put a little Freedom Tower memorial next to the drill pad, I’d support it. It validates our feelings and makes our childhood important to them.”

In the end, Capt Candy agreed to let the Cadets have their observance, on the condition it last “no more than 30 seconds and doesn’t interfere with drill.”

“Fine, whatever,” said Capt Candy. “I just hope they don’t expect me to stand in formation next year when they discover the Kennedy assassination.”