The following was written and submitted by faithful SooToday.com reader and Air Cadet supporter, Gene Monin.

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Have you heard of a Wings Parade?

The 155 Air Cadet Squadron have a special ceremony at the Armouries on October 21 at 6.30 p.m.

So what’s so special about this parade? 

Well, only the 155 have a Wings Parade out of the many squadrons in Canada.

The cadets who have achieved their pilot’s licences through the cadet program are presented with their wings, and each mother gets to pin them on their sons and daughters. 

This makes this particular ceremony different from all the others. 

After all, it was probably the mothers who got their cadets to training night, got after them to keep their boots and uniforms clean and sparkling, and encouraged them when they felt like quitting.

Obtaining a pilot’s licence (for free!) through cadets is the hardest achievement for these cadets, as the competition is strong.  

Only an average of two people a year achieve their wings in the local Air Cadet Squadron.

Part of their course is ground school which they do at Sault College in cooperation with the Aviation Program there.   

Cadets also have to be well rounded in their knowledge of current affairs on top of their technical knowledge.

Only the top four local cadets are eligible to progress on to the next exam.

Standards are set very high.

The Wings Parade is a tradition going back to the time the Air Cadet Program started in Canada. 

A private pilot’s licence would cost $25,000 to $30,000 if you paid for lessons.

Through the cadets it is absolutely free, and cadets receive $60 a week when they go out of town for flight lessons.

Just in case you think that this is all the cadets do, they play sports like volleyball and have a pipe band.

There is something for all cadets to be involved in, and the program builds character and discipline, and cadets do well academically at school.

The public is welcome to attend this year’s Wings Parade at the Armouries on October 21 at 6.30 p.m. sharp.

There is no admission charge. 

It may be a good time to bring a young person and show them what cadets is all about.

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