HR0945LRB099 16986 MST 41335 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, During World War II, under a special program known 
3as  Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), female pilots flew 
4noncombat missions to free up male pilots for combat; and
 
5    WHEREAS, WASPs were considered civilians; 38 women died in 
6crashes, but neither they nor their families received military 
7benefits; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, WASP pilots were granted veteran status in 1977, 
9making them eligible to have their ashes placed at Arlington 
10National Cemetery with military honors; since 2002,  this has 
11gone on without controversy; and
  
 
  
12    WHEREAS, Recently, the United States Army, which oversees 
13Arlington National Cemetery, has stated that in 2002, the  
14superintendent  of the cemetery had no authority to begin 
15allowing the remains of WASP pilots to be buried there, and  
16under federal law, WASP pilots are only eligible for burial at 
17cemeteries run by the Department of Veteran Affairs; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, The WASPs were a distinct group of women; they 
19test-flew repaired military aircraft, trained combat pilots, 
20and towed airborne targets that other pilots fired at with live 
21ammunition during training; and
  
 
 
 
HR0945- 2 -LRB099 16986 MST 41335 r

1    WHEREAS, The WASPs are not asking for anything beyond what 
2they earned; therefore, be it
  
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
4NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
5urge the United States Army to reverse its decision and once 
6again allow the Women Airforce Service Pilots to be buried in 
7their rightful place at Arlington National Cemetery; and be it 
8further
  
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
10presented to the United States Secretary of the Army.