License to Thrive

"Long Overdue"

The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II were honored with the Congressional Gold Medal. A ceremony was held at the Capitol Visitor Center with surviving members of WASP and representatives of deceased members participating in a ceremony.  

The Congressional Gold Medal honored WASP members for their pioneering military service that led to reform in the U.S. Armed Forces. The WASP was composed of the first women in history to fly American military aircraft. They flew more than 60,000,000 miles in every type of aircraft and on every type of assignment flown by their male counterparts except combat missions.