What a year it has been.  I thought about this as we in the Northeast Region were planning for our annual conference. Part of every conference is the updating of a PowerPoint presentation dedicated to honoring the memory of the members of our CAP family across the region who passed away since the last conference. As we discussed this topic with each wing commander, two things dawned on me…first, we lost a lot of our fellow airmen this past year and second, the amount of support that was given to the family and friends of our dearly departed. “The Lord is near the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18).

What a year 2026 has indeed been. Many thoughts and memories traversed my mind as I contemplated this year’s memorial, and my first thought was not of a CAP member this past year but someone who was married to a member and raised a son who earned his Spaatz Award and is today commanding a cadet squadron...my wife.  The outpouring of support I personally received from my fellow airmen was nothing short of amazing. It came from my command staff, from the individual wing staffs, and from national. During the winter Command Council meetings, the national Chief of Chaplains reached out to me and took me to lunch. I never met the man before this. My own region chaplain was a constant presence during and after our loss. For such a difficult time my CAP brothers and sisters were a source of comfort and constant support. In fact, my region chaplain and former wing chaplain, were present at the funeral and one co-celebrated her burial service.

Every region and wing loses members each year, but 2026 saw so many members who were so well known that it impacted many among the NER staff.  Our long-time region IG, a former wing commander from New York, and the beloved wife and NER staff member who was simply ‘always there’ when needed among others. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).

Every wing loses members each year, but this year seemed particularly difficult. We lost people who had touched the lives of countless others throughout the Northeast Region—commanders, staff members, mentors, friends, and spouses. Those losses remind us that being a member of Civil Air Patrol means more than serving together. It means being there for one another.

When a fellow airman dies, our responsibility does not end with the funeral or memorial service. For families and friends, grief continues long afterward. A phone call, a note, an invitation to lunch, or simply sitting and listening can mean more than we realize.

We should remember that grief has no timetable. Weeks and months after the funeral, when the calls have stopped and life around the grieving family has returned to normal, their lives may still feel anything but normal. That is when our continued presence can matter most.

For commanders, chaplains, and fellow members, the message is simple: reach out, remember, and be present. We cannot take away someone's grief, but we can make sure they do not face it alone. We train together, serve together, and celebrate together. We should also mourn together.

The names on our memorial presentation are more than names. They represent people who gave a part of their lives to something larger than themselves. We honor them by remembering their service—and by continuing to care for the people they left behind. When one of us hurts, all of us should care. When one of us mourns, all of us should remember. And when one of us needs a wing to lean on, the Civil Air Patrol family should be there.