Ernst Presses Defense Secretary on Arlington National Cemetery Inurnment Rights for WASPs
“…it is a travesty that these women, who are pioneers in military aviation, had the honor of having their ashes inurned at Arlington National Cemetery revoked last year, during the same year that historically you opened up positions that had been previously closed in combat to women.”
| WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) pressed Defense Secretary Ash Carter on the need to restore the rights of Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) to be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). “Yesterday, I joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to advocate for some incredible women, who really do deserve to be honored: they are the Women Airforce Service Pilots, otherwise known as WASPs. “And Secretary—you know where I’m going with this—it is a travesty that these women, who are pioneers in military aviation, had the honor of having their ashes inurned at Arlington National Cemetery revoked last year, during the same year that historically you opened up positions that had been previously closed in combat to women. “So I would like to see that addressed, and the Pentagon should do the right thing and honor these women by restoring their rights to have their ashes inurned at the National Cemetery. And it’s my understanding that a waiver could be done for these women to do so. So I would encourage you to do so and I’d like to see that action taken. They are a part of America’s greatest generation as well.” |
| Senator Ernst’s comments follow a bipartisan, bicameral press conference held this week to call on the Army to reinstate the WASPs at ANC. As the Iowa Senator noted, “Iowa was at one time or another, home to at least 25 courageous WASPs.” Click here or the image below to watch the video.
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