Legislation Would Allow Remains Of Female WWII Pilots To Be Laid To Rest At Arlington
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Seven members of Congress from Illinois have co-sponsored legislation to take care of the wishes of the few remaining women who carried out a special function during World War Two.
Legislation was introduced last month to allow the cremated remains of those who served as Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) to be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery, if that's their wish.
"The challenge is Arlington Cemetery is crowded and there's limited space there, and so that's some of the pushback we get," U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren said.
The congressman said about 1,000 women served as WASPs; and they went through the same training as male pilots, tested fighter planes, trained male pilots, and assembled aircraft. More than 30 were killed in action.
Hultgren said only about 100 WASPs are still living.
"It's a really important story for us to remember the service that they provided, but also – as we lose this greatest generation – to make sure that we're doing all that we can to memorialize them, to give them the recognition that they deserve," he said.
Besides Hultgren, other Illinois members of Congress who support the legislation include representatives Tammy Duckworth, Adam Kinzinger, Robert Dold, Bobby Rush, Rodney Davis and Mike Bost.
The legislation has been assigned to a sub-committee.