On the recordJuly 24, 2024
I congratulate Minnesota Civil Air Patrol Cadet Evan Ekstrand, who was awarded the General Carl A. Spaatz Award. This award is the Civil Air Patrol's highest honor and is given to less than 1 percent of Civil Air Patrol cadets for excellence in leadership, character, physical fitness, and aerospace education. Evan has dedicated his life to service, and this award is well-deserved. I met with Evan and his fellow cadets earlier this year. Evan stands out. He stood out from the group because of his patriotism and his passion for aviation. Evan is not the only member, however, of the Ekstrand family to be involved in the Civil Air Patrol. Until recently, Evan's mom, Tami, served as the deputy commander for cadets of the Civil Air Patrol, St. Croix Squadron. I congratulate Evan, again, and I wish him, his fiancee, and his family all the best. ____________________
