[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S419-S420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO WHIDBEY ISLAND PILOTS

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the Lieutenants

[[Page S420]]

Peggy Dente and Lyndsay Evans of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island for 
making history on February 12, 2023, as part of the first-ever all-
women flyover at the Super Bowl pregame, commemorating 50 years of 
women serving in the U.S. Navy.
  Both of these extraordinary women represent the best of what 
Washington State--and our Nation--has to offer. Not only do the two 
share over a decade of friendship, they also bring with them a keen 
sense of duty and deep commitment to excellence in aviation.
  In 1973, eight women broke new ground by being selected for naval 
aviation training for the first time in our Nation's history. Five 
decades later, we are seeing more women and girls express interest in 
taking to the skies through service and leadership at every level of 
naval aviation. In performing their first ever flyover, Dente and Evans 
have quite literally proven that with women at the helm, the sky is the 
limit.
  I know breaking into a field dominated by men isn't easy, when I 
first got to the Senate, there wasn't even a women's bathroom off the 
Senate floor. But every day, women like Lieutenants Dente and Evans are 
setting an example for young girls that with hard work, they can follow 
their dreams and achieve their goals.
  I offer my sincere thanks to the lieutenants for their service to our 
country and my congratulations for proudly representing Washington 
State on the national stage. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating this tremendous accomplishment.

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