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Congressional Gold Medal for the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII
Congratulations to the Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII!
Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Barbara Mikulski introduced Senate Bill 614 on March 12, 2009 and the president signed it into Public Law 111-40 on July 1, 2009. The bill sailed through Congress in a matter of three months, thanks to the grassroots efforts of the many WASP supporters throughout the nation. Here is a link to Public Law 111-40.
Congressional cosponsors –
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) - Senate Republican Lead
Senator Barbara Mikulski (Maryland) – Senate Democrat Lead
Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Florida -18th) – House Republican Lead
Representative Susan Davis (California – 53rd) – House Democrat Lead
All of the 17 female Senators were original Senate co-sponsors.
Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA)
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC)
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Senate Cosponsors
House Cosponsors
GOLD MEDAL CEREMONY INFORMATION
Planning for the ceremony is still in the beginning stages. As information becomes available, it will be posted here.
Congressional Gold Medal – There will be one Gold Medal minted by the U.S. Mint. This medal will be on display at the ceremony, and then will be donated to the Smithsonian Institution for permanent display.
Bronze Medals – Bronze medal replicas of the gold medal will be awarded to each WASP survivor at the ceremony. One family member from each deceased WASP will receive a bronze medal on behalf of the family. Additional duplicate bronze medals will be available for purchase from the Mint, for remaining family members and others interested in the WASPs.
Ceremony Date – The date has not been determined yet. It could be several months before a firm date is set. The U.S. Mint is currently in the process of designing the medal. Once the design is approved, then the U.S. Treasury must actually mint the medal. Due to the advancing age of many surviving WASPS, the ceremony will then be scheduled to ensure as many WASPs as possible will be able to attend.
Ceremony – The ceremony will take place in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, with related events and galas to commemorate the occasion. We anticipate that the ceremony will be in early 2010 in the Capitol at Washington, DC.
List of WASP – The Women in Military Service in America Memorial Foundation, (WIMSA), has been designated to maintain the official list of the WASP. The foundation has set up a dedicated email - wasp@womensmemorial.org. We suggest that all WASP survivors and family members of WASP (surviving and deceased) email their names and contact information to WIMSA so that we can keep in contact with you. WIMSA will also be the focal resource as ceremony invitations are prepared. This will also help us as we try to mail medals to survivors and designated family members of deceased WASP who were not able to attend the ceremony.
WASP who Qualify for the Medal – The WASP who qualify for the Congressional Gold Medal are those who graduated from WASP training and received their WASP wings, or those who were awarded their WINGS based upon other service. WASP trainees who died while in training also qualify to receive the award.
Invitees – At this time, the number of ceremony invitations reserved for family members is unknown. As soon as that is determined, it will be posted on this site. However, due to space constraints, it is expected that only a very limited number of family will be able to attend. Although there will not be room for all family members to attend the actual ceremony, there will be other events to celebrate the occasion that will include invitations for family members.
Fly Girls of World War II Exhibit at WIMSA – The Fly Girls display will remain at WIMSA until March 30, 2010. Fly Girls is an extensive display of the WASP of WWII and is housed at the Women in Military Service in America Memorial Foundation at Arlington Cemetery.
LINKS OF INTEREST
WASP FACTS
WASP on the WEB (2,000 pages)
National Museum of the US Air Force
Texas Women’s University – WASP Archive
WWII Women Pilots
OTHER INFORMATION
U.S. Mint – Congressional Gold Medals
The Women in Military Service in America Memorial Foundation – WIMSA
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORTED S.614
99’s
AFA (Air Force Association)
American Legion
Association of the US Navy
Coast Guard Aviation Association
CAF (Commemorative Air Force)
EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association)
EANGUS (Enlisted Association National Guard)
Military Order of World Wars
MOAA (Military Officer’s Association of America)
ROA (Reserve Officer’s Association)
VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)
WMA (Women Military Aviators)
Discovery of Flight Foundation
WAI (Women in Aviation International)
MUSEUMS WITH WASP DISPLAYS
The National WASP WWII Museum, Sweetwater, Texas
Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC
National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, Savannah, Georgia
Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston, Texas
American Airpower Museum, Farmingdale, New York
Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona
Seattle Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington
March Field Air Museum, March Reserve Air Base, California
Texas State History Museum, Austin, Texas
Wings Over Miami Air Museum
International Women’s Air and Space Museum
If you would like more information, please contact Roxi Dolphin at 202-224-1443 or email roxi_dolphin@hutchison.senate.gov
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