The Women Excluded From Arlington National Cemetery

Date Posted: Friday, January 15, 2016

In 2015, the Secretary of the Army rescinded the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) eligibility to be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery after their official veteran status was achieved in 1977, over 30 years after they served stateside and overseas during World War II. They flew 77 different types of aircraft and over 60 million miles. Thirty-eight died during the war. General "Hap" Arnold fought for WASP official military status in 1944, but unexpectedly lost that Congressional battle. His letter to the WASPs and the legislative bill is included in this article. About 200 WASPs went to Korea and Vietnam as Reserves. Since 2002, they have been eligible to be placed in Arlington National Cemetery with standard honors. Legislation to restore inurnment rights has been introduced by Representative Martha McSally, an Air-Force veteran, and Senator Barbara Mikulski put forward a similar bill in the Senate. Today, there are only 115 WASPs living, all over 90 years old.

Read the full article at: The Atlantic