Photo by Sgt. Judith Willis During a remembrance ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., several family members placed 38 roses in memory of the Women Airforce Service Pilots who lost their lives while serving their country.

Commonly known as WASPs, these women paved the way for female aviators by volunteering to fly non-combatmissions during World War II, allowing men to continue fighting overseas. Each WASP, or relative who came on behalf of one, was escorted throughout D.C. by an airman, sailor,soldier or Marine.

‘‘Meeting the Women Airforce Service Pilots wasabsolutely amazing,” said Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Henry, thecareer management team liaison at Reserve Affairs and escort. ‘‘In my life I have never met a grouping of people as patriotic as these phenomenal women.”

Henry was an aerial observer and door gunner on aUH1-N Huey and received her combat air wings in Afghanistan in 2004.

Another notable guest at the event was Vernice Armour, the Marine Corps’ first African American female combat pilot.

‘‘I’m standing on the shoulders of the women who are here today,” said Armour. ‘‘There is no reason that everyone in this nation should not know their story.”

The medal, often considered the most distinguished award given by Congress, must be co-sponsored by 67 senatorsbefore the House Committee will consider it.

‘‘It’s unbelievable,” said 89-year-old Captola Johnson, a WASP graduate from Class 43-6. ‘‘It’s just like a dream.”

These women have become role models for the next generation of aviators.

‘‘It was really an honor to represent the Marine Corps and the military, and honor what these women did,” said 1st Lt. Tina Terry, an Osprey pilot who presented 88 year-old Patricia Nuckols, a Glenside, Pa., native, with her gold medal.

To read more about these women and their historicexploits, visit www.wingsacrossamerica.us⁄wasp.

— Correspondent: judith.willis@usmc.mil