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Elaine Harmon, Female WWII Pilot, Will Finally Be Laid to Rest at Arlington

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Elaine Harmon, Female WWII Pilot, Will Finally Be Laid to Rest at Arlington - NBC News

ARLINGTON, Va. — It took an act of Congress, but World War II pilot Elaine Harmon is finally being laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Harmon died last year at age 95. She was one of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), a group of women who flew military aircraft on noncombat missions during World War II so that men were freed up for combat.
The women were not granted military status at the time they served, but received retroactive status as veterans in 1977. And for many years, WASPs were eligible to have their ashes inurned at Arlington.
<img class="img-responsive img_inline" src="http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2016_13/1480876/160401-elaine-harmon-mn-1110_7f29e3d5a26884eaebfd7e03d9fed0dd.nbcnews-fp-360-360.jpg" alt="" title="" itemprop="image"/> WWII pilot Elaine Harmon Courtesy of Erin Miller
Last year, though, Army officials concerned about limited space at the cemetery ruled WASPs ineligible for inclusion at Arlington. A memo from then-Army Secretary John McHugh concluded that Arlington never should have granted eligibility to WASPs in the first place.

Awesome! :thumbs:
 
Interesting, "WASPS".

So this would seem to be the Air Force counterpart to the Navy's "WAVES", of the same era?
 
Interesting footnote: the legislation to get WASPs in Arlington was sponsored by Martha McSally, first US woman to fly in combat(A-10 no less)and first woman to command an air force squadron.
 
Interesting, "WASPS".

So this would seem to be the Air Force counterpart to the Navy's "WAVES", of the same era?

Similar. WAVES where more desk drivers, doing administrative work to free up men for sea duty. WASPs however, where pilots. They flew stateside, cargo and passengers and such, so the men could fly in the warzone.
 
I'm happy for her family. But I do have to say, things are getting crowded in Arlington. While they have plenty of room for above ground inurnment of ashes, I think it is about time that they change the eligibility for burial to be just for those who died in combat or earned the Medal of Honor. Maybe a Service Cross or a Silver Star could qualify as well. For the rest of us who served, if we want to be there, we should just accept cremation.
 
I'm happy for her family. But I do have to say, things are getting crowded in Arlington. While they have plenty of room for above ground inurnment of ashes, I think it is about time that they change the eligibility for burial to be just for those who died in combat or earned the Medal of Honor. Maybe a Service Cross or a Silver Star could qualify as well. For the rest of us who served, if we want to be there, we should just accept cremation.

Or they could expand the cemetery, or open a new one serving the same purpose.
 
Or they could expand the cemetery, or open a new one serving the same purpose.

They are currently expanding right now but that only adds 25,000 plots. There is only so much room they have to expand into. I used to live right next door to it.

As for opening up cemeteries elsewhere that is done. There are plenty of national cemeteries veterans can be buried in. But there is a certain prestige about Arlington. I think more and more Americans are opting for cremation so maybe that will end up saving the day.
 
Interesting, "WASPS".

So this would seem to be the Air Force counterpart to the Navy's "WAVES", of the same era?

Hi don't think so. WAVES were actual members of the military. What a STUPID distinction to make re WASPS. Cute name. Never heard of them.
 
Hi don't think so. WAVES were actual members of the military. What a STUPID distinction to make re WASPS. Cute name. Never heard of them.
Well, you are technically right.

But if you get a chance, you may want to check-out the Wiki entry - they're a pretty interesting group.
 
Or they could expand the cemetery, or open a new one serving the same purpose.

Or they could just get cremated... land is pretty valuable and we only have so much of it.
 
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