Florida State Honored by Air Force Association as Outstanding State Organization

Arlington, VA, September 26, 2001-The Air Force Association (AFA) names the Florida State Chapter its Outstanding State Organization of the year. The chapter was recognized for excellence in areas such as veteran affairs, membership recruitment, and aerospace education. 

The Florida State Chapter consists of 19 individual AFA chapters with a total state membership of 12,074. The state is the third largest AFA state organization in terms of membership and comprises approximately 11 percent of the total AFA membership.

The Florida State Chapter is active throughout the state fostering aerospace education and telling the Air Force story. The State held its 13^th Annual Air Force Junior ROTC Drill Meet recently at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Twenty area high schools, represented by 29 drill teams and 39 color guard teams, participated in the competition. Florida's Eglin and Hurlburt Field Chapters maintain and update the flight Demonstration Wind Tunnel at the FOCUS Center in Fort Walton Beach, FL. The display is a favorite of elementary and middle school aged children.

Florida chapters award thousands of dollars annually to students and teachers through scholarships, grants and cash for continuing education. Over the past seventeen years, the Central Florida Chapter alone raised more than $1.25 million for aerospace education activities.

Florida has one of the largest retired military populations in the country and the state chapter is a strong advocate of veterans' issues such as better health care and retired pay. Newsletters, websites and state and local meetings are integral parts of the support network for veterans. The Hurlburt Field Chapter was an integral part of this year's first Veteran's Day ceremonies in Hurlburt Field, FL. The Eglin Chapter sponsors an annual POW/MIA recognition event and sponsored a commemorative coin for distribution at ceremonies. Florida is also the site of AFA's annual Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, FL.

All of Florida State's 19 chapters are heavily involved in Florida schools in ROTC programs, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and Veterans organizations. Together they support the Air Force, promote aerospace power and education and in keeping with he AFA mission. The Air Force Association salutes the Florida State (AFA) Chapter and is proud to name it the Outstanding State Organization of the year.

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 Local Contact: David R. Cummock, President, Florida State (AFA), (904) 760-7142

The Air Force Association is an independent, non-profit, civilian aerospace organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. AFA publishes Air Force Magazine, sponsors national symposia and disseminates information through outreach programs of its affiliate, the Aerospace Education Foundation. Learn more about AFA by visiting us on the Web at www.AFA.org.