SA Resident to Receive Congressional Gold Medal For WASP Service in WWII

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Republican Leader John Boehner, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Members of Congress will hold a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on March 10, 2010 in the Capitol to honor the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II. It will be the first official recognition of their pioneering service as WWII pilots - rectifying an omission that has long disturbed many who recognize the women's service to freedom and the war effort.

WASP started in 1942 when Eleanor Roosevelt made an impassioned plea for women pilots to fill a critical WWII need. They became heroes and role models for generations of women to come. WASP civilian female pilots flew military aircraft under the direction of the United States Army Air Forces - including fighter, bomber, transport and training aircraft in defense of America's freedom. Through their actions, the WASP were the catalyst for revolutionary reform in the integration of women pilots into the Armed Services.

More than 25,000 young women applied to serve their country as pilots in the WASP program in 1943. Only 1,830 were accepted and 1,074 graduated. The WASP flew 60 million miles before the group was deactivated December 20, 1944. For all their contributions to the war effort, the WASP were not given military status, privileges or honors. It wasn't until 1977 that they were awarded veterans' status - a move that made them eligible for military burial.

San Antonio resident Dorothy Lucas, who lives at Air Force Village, was one of the adventurous young women who proudly served as a WASP and she plans to be at the ceremony in Washington, D.C. She keeps in touch with WASP friends who love to swap stories about that amazing era. Their numbers are diminishing with the passage of time and only a handful of WASP live in Texas today.

Lucas, who is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, gained confidence from her WASP experience that stays with her today - at a youthful, wise and energetic 87 years young. She plays bridge three days a week; enjoys the company of friends, some of whom she has known since her husband's career as an Air Force pilot; exercises regularly; and participates in many social activities with fellow Air Force Village residents.

Legislation to support the WASP Congressional Gold Medal was co-sponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and Representative Susan Davis (D-CA). On July 1, 2009, President Obama signed the legislation.

Sponsors of the legislation issued a statement saying, "This Congressional Gold Medal honors the remarkable accomplishments, courage and sacrifice of a distinct group of women in the United States military. The Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII will be remembered for their dedicated efforts and unwavering service to our country in the fight for freedom."


ABOUT AIR FORCE VILLAGE
Founded by the Air Force Officers' Wives' Clubs, Air Force Village is a retirement community with two campuses located in San Antonio for retired officers from all branches of the military. Air Force Village I, off of Ravenswood Drive, and Air Force Village II, off of John D. Ryan Boulevard, offer a full continuum of care, from independent living apartment homes to assisted living, skilled nursing and memory support, if ever needed. Air Force Village is the first military-related retirement community to be accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission.