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“The WASPS were forgotten for 35 years, and it really bothered me. These women that were in the rst [WASP training] classes, they needed some recognition, so that’s why I like getting the word out that these women existed and did something great.”
- Lt. Elaine Danforth Harmon, U.S. WASP, in a 2004 oral history interview for the Veterans History Project, Library of Congress
that they were recognized as equals before they died. They, like me, were under the impression that the legislation in 1977 had granted them equal veterans rights but in fact it was a law limited to only part of the federal government,” she explained.
Miller started with a grass-roots social media campaign. After several weeks of promoting a petition on Change.org, Miller said “the ground began to shift.” Thousands of signatures poured in and the mainstream media began publishing and airing stories about Harmon and Miller’s fight.
Miller then spent months visiting the offices of Congressmen and women to press her case. Finally, Rep. Martha McSally of Arizona, a retired Air Force colonel, sponsored legislation that would grant full veteran status to the WASP. Despite the polarization in Congress, the House of Representatives unani- mously passed H.R. 4336, and President Obama signed it into law May 20, 2016. Because it was so important to Miller that the situation was made right for her grandmother, Miller tattooed “114th Congress, 2nd Session, H.R. 4336” on her forearm as her own personal way of celebrating the victory.
On Sept. 14, 2016, Elaine Harmon’s remains were laid to rest with full military honors alongside her fellow veterans.
Miller has written a soon-to-be-published book entitled “Final Flight, Final Fight,” which recounts the story behind the struggle to gain acceptance of the WASPs at Arlington, as well as recounting Elaine Harmon’s life, especially the last few years before she died. “In the book, I would like readers to get a sense of why it was important to her that this issue be resolved. I would also like to try to convey to people how to resolve a problem like this via Congress and what it feels like to go through this process,” she said.
NBAA has announced it plans to present its Meritorious Service to Aviation Award to the WASP at its 2018 Convention. Erin Miller will be accepting the award on behalf of all WASP pilots, in recognition of her success in finally gaining inurnment rights at Arlington for these patriots. If you are planning to attend NBAA-BACE, you won’t want to miss it.
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America, who’s your hero? Answer: Elaine Harmon and other brave, accomplished WASP pilots. Thank you all for your service to our country. T&T
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www.covingtonaircraft.com
Dianne White can be contacted at
editor@diannewhite.com
TWIN & TURBINE • 5