State Sen. Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim, left, visited the Dungeness Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol on Jan. 3 and participated in special ceremonies honoring cadet Madeline Patterson. Van De Wege presented Patterson, at center, with the Civil Air Patrol’s Gen. Billy Mitchell Award. This milestone award honors teens who have completed two of four phases in the CAP Cadet Program by passing examinations in aerospace, leadership and physical fitness in addition to completing a weeklong military-style cadet encampment. With them is squadron commander Maj. Mark S. Swanson, CAP, who promoted Patterson, a Sequim High School sophomore, to the rank of cadet second lieutenant. Dungeness Composite Squadron is the local unit of the Civil Air Patrol, the official U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, and meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in the Sequim Middle School cafeteria. For information, go to dungeness.wawg.cap.gov or gocivilairpatrol.com. Photo by Danielle Patterson/Civil Air Patrol