[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 291]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        THE WASPS ARE BEING DENIED BURIAL AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the great World War II was at its 
peak. So, on September 11, 1943, 28-year-old Sandy Thompson left her 
teaching job and volunteered for the Women Airforce Service Pilots, 
better known as the WASP. As a pilot, she towed targets for live 
antiaircraft practice, helped deliver planes to overseas bases, and 
tested new aircraft.
  Of the 1,000 women who were WASPs, 38 were killed during their 
missions. Sixteen of these unsung heroes still live in Texas, and these 
pilots are part of the Greatest Generation.
  WASPs were considered civilians until 1977. Then Congress granted 
them veteran status. In 2002, the WASPs were allowed to be cremated and 
have their ashes placed in Arlington National Cemetery, but now 
bureaucrats have decided that these veterans are not worthy of having a 
proper military burial and have revoked burial rights in Arlington. The 
reason they say is a lack of space. This is disgraceful. A lack of 
space is a sorry excuse to dishonor these veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, the government owns 23 percent of the land mass in the 
United States. Find space to permanently honor these female veterans.
  And that is just the way it is.

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