Discrimination Continues - WASP Can Not Get Full Honors at Arlington
The Washington Post published an article Sunday May 12, 2002 about Arlington National Cemetery and the WASPs ineligibility for military honors. The issue regarding military honors for the WASPs is summarized below.
| The Women's Airforce Service Pilots served as civilians under the Army Air Corp during WWII. In 1977 Congress enacted Public Law 95-202 which grants that service of the WASP and other similar groups with service to the Armed Forces "shall be considered active duty for purposes of laws administered by the Veterans' Administration." On March 8, 1979, the Secretary of Defense announced that the service of the WASP had been determined that the service constituted active military service. That year the first Honorable Discharge from the Air Force was issued to a WASP. The Women's Airforce Service Pilots served as civilians under the Army Air Corp during WWII. In 1977 Congress enacted Public Law 95-202 which grants that service of the WASP and other similar groups with service to the Armed Forces "shall be considered active duty for purposes of laws administered by the Veterans' Administration." On March 8, 1979, the Secretary of Defense announced that the service of the WASP had been determined that the service constituted active military service. That year the first Honorable Discharge from the Air Force was issued to a WASP. Arlington National Cemetery has determined that the language on my mother's separation papers (as is the case with most WASPs and is identical to the language of the legislation) makes WASPs ineligible for military honors. Specifically, Arlington's interpretation is that WASPs were not active duty (even though the Secretary of Defense determined that their service constituted active military service) and therefore ineligible for military honors afforded other active duty male veteran. Many of the WASPs with whom I have spoken were equally surprised to learn of Arlington's interpretation. I believe that we thought that the granting of veterans' benefits in 1979 extended to military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. |
If we are to get any action on the matter, it is critically important that we move into action immediately on several fronts--letters to the Editor of the Washington Post, letters to members of Congress, and letters to the Secretary of Defense. TV and radio are also important.
| Letters to the editor of The Washington Post, particularly from WASPs and women military aviators, are vital. Letters can be sent by email to: letters@washpost.com or by regular mail to Letters to the Editor, The Washington Post, 1150 15th Street, Washington, D. C. 20071. Also, email to Members of Congress, particularly from WASPs and women military aviators, are vital. Email addresses of members of Congress can be found at the following web sites (Congress prefers electronic letters after the anthrax problems.) |
| Members of the Senate: http://www.senate.gov/ House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/ |
Comments by Julie Englund.
Now that the Post has published my letter, it would be helpful to follow up with letters to the editor and to members of Congress. The WASPs have friends who will try to get this material to Tom Brokaw who wrote one chapter of his book on The Greatest Generation about the WASPs. Similarly we are trying to get to Chokie Roberts of National Public Radio, daughter of Lindy Boggs who was one of the members of Congress who sponsored the legislation to give WASPs veterans benefits. If there are others whom you think we should enlist support, please feel free to write them directly about this situation.
For individuals who may have difficulty opening an attachment, I have copied the article below into this email. In advance, thank you for any help you can offer. To all of the WASPs on my mailing, we send you our very best and hope that those charged with the administration of Arlington National Cemetery will recognize your service.
Best regards to all,
Julie Englund
e-mail: engfitz@aol.com or jenglund@law.harvard.edu
telephone: 617-495-2905 (wk); 617-945-0420 (hm in Massachusetts);
301-526-4317 (cell); 301-588-5062 (home in Maryland on weekends)