In Memoriam |
CADET COMMANDER LAID TO REST WITH U.S. CIVIL AIR PATROL HONORS
Fellow cadets honor fallen teen with funeral element
(Beaumont, Calif.)16 September 2007 - Cadet Senior Airman Joseph Reynolds, 16, of Beaumont, Calif. was laid to rest Saturday, September 15 with U.S. Civil Air Patrol Honors during a funeral mass at Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Beaumont. Reynolds died Monday, September 10 due to injuries sustained when he was struck by a car two days prior.
An eight-member cadet Honor Guard funeral element from Palm Springs Composite Squadron 11 presented honors to Reynolds, who was serving as the squadron's Cadet Commander at the time of his death. He was named to the duty position August 1.
"Cadet Commander Reynolds grasped the fundamental idea that leadership flows from the care for people in your command," said Maj. Simon Housman, who is the squadron's Deputy Commander for Cadets.
During his command, Reynolds developed individual physical training regimens personalized for each cadet, he said. Reynolds was a multi-sport athlete with varsity letters in both Cross Country and Track from Beaumont High School.
"He wanted us to be physically fit because it was something he liked and something that he thought was important for us," said Cadet First Sgt. Patrick Phillips.
As first sergeant, Phillips was learning to lead with Reynolds' guidance.
"He was teaching me basically how to use my voice and how to be more effective with the skills I have," he said.
Phillips led the Honor Guard funeral detail at Saturday's memorial service.
"I felt kind of honored," he said of the detail. "It was sort of like a release and a good way to say goodbye."
The cadets placed an interment flag on Reynolds' casket, performed Taps, and executed a six person fold over the casket on the church's front landing. The detail also provided an honor cordon as the remains were loaded into a hearse for a private inurnment.
Reynolds joined Civil Air Patrol in April 2006 and graduated from Basic Cadet School at March Air Reserve Base the same month. He was a recipient of the Gen. J.F. Curry, Gen. Hap Arnold, and Mary Feik ribbons for achievements in the organization's cadet program.
The cadet's lifelong goal was to become a Marine. Just days before his death, he learned he'd been granted early acceptance to the United States Marine Corps. He would've gone to boot camp at the completion of the school year shortly after graduation.
"Joe was the kind of guy that you want to the left of you or the right of you when you're in a really bad situation. He had a calm strength that just came from within," said Lt. Sam Aguilar, who mentored Reynolds as both a former Marine and as the squadron's Assistant Deputy Commander for Cadets.
Aguilar described the cadet's leadership style as quiet but insistent.
"Reynolds was never loud because he didn't need to be. He was focused and did exactly what he needed to do to get the job done," he said. "He never did less than; he always exceeded the standard."
The cadet was posthumously awarded a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for his leadership and service by Congresswoman Mary Bono (R-Palm Springs).
Reynolds is survived by his grandmother Sally Andrade, stepfather Joseph Andrade, sister Megan, 15, brother Gerard, 17, and oldest sister Lori Jones.
Donations can be made to the Joseph Reynolds Memorial Fund, acct #40041753688, at any Citibank location. Additionally, donations can be mailed to:
Joseph Reynolds Memorial Fund
c/o Citibank
During his command, Reynolds developed individual physical training regimens personalized for each cadet, he said. Reynolds was a multi-sport athlete with varsity letters in both Cross Country and Track from Beaumont High School.
"He wanted us to be physically fit because it was something he liked and something that he thought was important for us," said Cadet First Sgt. Patrick Phillips.
As first sergeant, Phillips was learning to lead with Reynolds' guidance.
"He was teaching me basically how to use my voice and how to be more effective with the skills I have," he said.
Phillips led the Honor Guard funeral detail at Saturday's memorial service.
"I felt kind of honored," he said of the detail. "It was sort of like a release and a good way to say goodbye."
The cadets placed an interment flag on Reynolds' casket, performed Taps, and executed a six person fold over the casket on the church's front landing. The detail also provided an honor cordon as the remains were loaded into a hearse for a private inurnment.
Reynolds joined Civil Air Patrol in April 2006 and graduated from Basic Cadet School at March Air Reserve Base the same month. He was a recipient of the Gen. J.F. Curry, Gen. Hap Arnold, and Mary Feik ribbons for achievements in the organization's cadet program.
The cadet's lifelong goal was to become a Marine. Just days before his death, he learned he'd been granted early acceptance to the United States Marine Corps. He would've gone to boot camp at the completion of the school year shortly after graduation.
"Joe was the kind of guy that you want to the left of you or the right of you when you're in a really bad situation. He had a calm strength that just came from within," said Lt. Sam Aguilar, who mentored Reynolds as both a former Marine and as the squadron's Assistant Deputy Commander for Cadets.
Aguilar described the cadet's leadership style as quiet but insistent.
"Reynolds was never loud because he didn't need to be. He was focused and did exactly what he needed to do to get the job done," he said. "He never did less than; he always exceeded the standard."
The cadet was posthumously awarded a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for his leadership and service by Congresswoman Mary Bono (R-Palm Springs).
Reynolds is survived by his grandmother Sally Andrade, stepfather Joseph Andrade, sister Megan, 15, brother Gerard, 17, and oldest sister Lori Jones.
Donations can be made to the Joseph Reynolds Memorial Fund, acct #40041753688, at any Citibank location. Additionally, donations can be mailed to:
Joseph Reynolds Memorial Fund
c/o Citibank
1139 Calimesa Blvd.
Calimesa, CA 92320
acct #40041753688
Article from The Record Gazette
MEDIA CONTACT:
Crystal Chatham, 2 Lt., U.S. Civil Air Patrol
PAO, Palm Springs Composite Squadron 11
[PCR-CA-435]
e-mail: sq11pao@gmail.com
| 09/15/2007 - Cadets from Palm Springs Composite Squadron 11 salute while Taps is played Saturday, September 15 in Beaumont, Calif. during the funeral service for their Cadet Commander, Joseph Reynolds, 16, who died September 10. Squadron 11 cadets formed an Honor Guard and learned how to perform as a funeral detail so their fellow cadet could be laid to rest with U.S. Civil Air Patrol Honors. (Photo by Lt. Crystal Chatham, PCR-CA-435) |
| 09/15/2007 - Cadets from Palm Springs Composite Squadron 11 stand as an honor cordon while the remains of Cadet Senior Airman Joseph Reynolds leave Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Beaumont, Calif. on Saturday, September 15. Reynolds was serving as the squadron's Cadet Commander at the time of his death. From left: Cadet 2nd Lt. Michael Webb, Cadet Airman Garrett Troester, Cadet Airman Basic Jessica Wilson, Cadet First Sergeant Patrick Phillips, and Cadet Airman Basic Ricardo Villalta, far right. (Photo by Lt. Crystal Chatham, PCR-CA-435) |
| Joseph Reynolds, 16, of Beaumont, Calif. proudly displays his Beaumont High School varsity Cross Country letter and an award from the California Interscholastic Federation. Reynolds, who died September 10, was the Cadet Commander of Palm Springs Composite Squadron 11. He was laid to rest the day before his 17th birthday. (Undated family photo) |