Known as "Women Airforce Service Pilots" or WASP, they were the first women to fly U.S. military planes. Their orders were to fly noncombat missions to free up male pilots to fly overseas during WWII. Thirty eight WASP were killed in service.
Those brave women went unrecognized for many, many years and long considered civilians, not members of the military and were not entitled to pay and benefits given to the men in uniform. They were finally afforded veteran status in 1977 after a long fight. On Wednesday March 10 a few hundred, now in their 80's and 90's were in Washington at the Capitol to receive the Congressional Gold Medal for their service, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi remarked, "we are all your daughters, you taught us how to fly."
Deanie Parrish, a WASP pilot said the women had volunteered to fly the planes without expectation that they would ever be thanked. Over 65 years ago we each served our country without any expectation of recognition or glory, and we did it without compromising the values that we were taught growing up. We did it because our country needed us.
This is truly an American story of brave and courageous women aviators who wanted to serve their country in time of need and never expected any thing in return. That is in great contrast to those political "hawks" who love to see other people's children march off to war while they themselves stay safe at home.
Although honoring the WASP's was long over due, America did what was required and America is a better country today, thanks to the female aviators of WWII. May God bless them all.
Note: Some excerpts taken from the Associated Press.
