Political Quotes

“I am so pleased, so honored, so humbled to be part of your Special Order. In the short time that you have been in Congress, you have been a real leader on so many important issues, and I think none as important as the one that you are spearheading today. I rise today to support you in your mission to give due recognition to the Women Airforce Service Pilots, otherwise known as WASPs, not the other WASPs that you know about. These are the real ladies that got the job done. They are a remarkable group of women who served our country proudly during World War II. As you heard from the other speakers, our country turned to female pilots to deliver planes to our military air bases overseas, tow targets for live antiaircraft artillery practice, and simulate strafing missions. They became the first women in U.S. history to fly for our proud military. Out of more than 25,000 women who applied for the program, only 1,704 were accepted in noncombat roles. These courageous American women logged in more than 60 million miles between 1942 and 1944, but it wasn't until 1977 that Congress passed legislation that gave these patriotic women their much-deserved veteran recognition. In 2002, Arlington National Cemetery decided to allow WASPs, among others listed as Active Duty designees, to receive benefits consistent with the status that they had so rightfully earned.…”