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Boaz honors student for character, hard work
Published November 28, 2009
Boaz Mayor Tim Walker and Boaz City Council members recite the Pledge of Allegiance before every council meeting.
On Monday night, Walker called on Boaz High School junior Adam T. Smith to lead the pledge. Smith accepted the responsibility without hesitation, saluting and confidently delivering the oath inside the Boaz Senior Center.
Walker praised Smith’s leadership and poise when placed on the spot in front of the council and audience members at the meeting.
Smith, though, is well versed in leadership and poise. In fact, Walker and the council honored Smith for his character and hard work that same night.
During the meeting, Smith received one of the Civil Air Patrol’s most prestigious cadet honors, the Billy Mitchell Award, marking the end of his enlisted phase in the CAP cadet program.
The award is given in honor of Maj. Gen. William “Billy” Mitchell, former deputy chief of the Army Air Service.
Smith is now a second lieutenant in the Boaz City School System CAP Squadron Alabama 801.
To earn the Billy Mitchell Award, cadets must pass a series of leadership, aerospace and physical fitness tests, and must attend a military-style encampment.
Alabama 801 squadron commander, Capt. Sonya Erskine, said she is “very proud” of Smith. Her son, Boaz High School sophomore and 1st Lt. Ryan Erskine, was the squadron’s first cadet to earn the award earlier this year.
“It’s a big honor,” Capt. Erskine said. “Only 15 percent of all cadets achieve the rank nationwide. Adam is very intelligent. Our cadets look up to him. He’s a great leader and a great role model.”
Aerospace education officer Lynn Toney said Smith is a dedicated cadet and praised Capt. Erskine for her leadership of the squadron.
“It’s not easy,” said Toney, also the gifted specialist for Boaz City Schools. “When they pass this test and get this award, I’m so proud of them. Adam goes to the Thursday night meetings and studies aerospace on his own. He goes to class at Boaz High School, and he’s dual-enrolled at Snead. He is a well-rounded young man of very good character. He wants to go far in life. He’s got his goals set. CAP is just one of the things he does well.
“CAP is going to help him with scholarships. The higher up you get, the more likely you are to get scholarships. CAP has so many things to offer kids. CAP is about leadership, character, being in physical shape.
“So many kids see CAP and say, ‘I don’t want to go in the military’ or ‘I don’t want to fly.’ CAP is not about wearing the uniform or being in the military. It’s about opportunities. It’s the doors it opens. These cadets are learning life skills, not only to help themselves and their families but other people as well.”
Toney said Capt. Erskine is key to the success of CAP cadets at Boaz City Schools.
“Commander Sonya Erskine has been there since the get-go,” Toney said. “She has the commitment, perseverance and the love of a mom for her children. She’s given to all the cadets, not just her son. The love she has for Ryan … she gives that same love and discipline to all the cadets.
“She worries about their grades, their uniforms, if they need anything. Even though she works 40 hours a week as a home health nurse, she still makes time for all the cadets.”
During Monday’s meeting, Walker proclaimed the week of Nov. 29 to Dec. 5, 2009, as Civil Air Patrol Week in Boaz.
CAP was established on Dec. 1, 1941, to supplement the U.S. military during World War II. In 1948, CAP was designated the U.S. Air Force’s official auxiliary with three missions — emergency services, cadet programs and aerospace education.
CAP’s Aerospace Education Program “annually touches more than 900 educators, more than 20,000 cadets and thousands of other youths in classrooms across America,” according to the proclamation.
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