Yes! After 66 Years! Congressional Medal for a Fallen Hero!

"Every American should be grateful for their service, and I am honored to sign this bill to finally give them some of the hard-earned recognition they deserve." (President Obama, July 1, 2009)

A hero of mine cannot march today, as she lost her life while flying for the Army years ago. Since then, many have fought hard for recognition for her supreme sacrifice. It's been overdue. It's so wonderful now, that in time for this 4th of July, President Obama has signed into law a bill that makes certain that my Aunt Mabel Rawlinson, fallen hero, will receive the Congressional Gold Medal.

It's been a long time coming. I've written about Mabel Rawlinson (My Fallen Hero: Fly Girl from Kalamazoo) before. She was my mother's sister. Mabel was one of just 1,857 women selected (out of the more than 25,000 women that applied) to enter pilot training during World War II. Moreover, when she received her Army Air Corps wings, she joined a group of only 1,102 phenomenal women who actually passed that rigorous training. Through hard work and determination, Mabel earned her rightful place among the elite Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Sadly for her family, she was not destined to live long.

When Mabel tragically died while flying her Army Air Corps plane in 1943, she became one of the first members of an even smaller and more elite group. She was one of only 38 female pilots who died while serving in World War II.

Unfortunately, overt discrimination was ubiquitous in the military then. Not only did these brave and talented women face blatant prejudice in their daily service and receive lower pay, they were also not even given full and rightful military status until many decades after the war. Even when these female patriots died in service, our government did not even pay to transport their lifeless bodies to their home towns for burial. Nor did our government allow their caskets to be draped with American flags. Mabel's fellow soldiers pooled their own money to help pay to send her body home to my grandmother in Kalamazoo.

Recognition for the service and sacrifices of the women pilots has been painfully slow in coming, and long overdue.

The Senate passed a very special bill in time for Memorial Day this year. And, now President Obama has signed it and made it law in time for July 4th. I am so proud of all the members of the Senate and House who sponsored and voted for this bill.

Though nothing can undo the injustice and discrimination that female members of the military have unfairly endured in years past, I am thrilled for this belated recognition for my fallen hero. Sixty-six years after her ultimate sacrifice, Mabel Rawlinson will, posthumously, of course, be awarded the highest honor available to the U.S. Congress - the Congressional Gold Medal!

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest and most distinguished award Congress can bestow. Since the American Revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. In 2000 and 2006, Congress awarded the Gold Medal to the Navajo Code Talkers and the Tuskegee Airmen, respectively.

For more about Mabel and the interesting history of the women pilots of World War II, please read this. The pictures, alone, are worth your time.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this happen.

[Aunt Mabel, I know it's sixty-six years late. Your family has always been so proud of you. I am here to say that your country finally remembers and honors you. Now, this 4th of July celebration is finally for you, too.]

[About this photo: President Barack Obama signs S.614, a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots, in the Oval Office Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Flanking the President are Bernice Falk Haydu, far left, Elaine Danforth Harmon, and Lorraine H. Rodgers, right. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) is at far right. Behind the President are active duty US Air Force pilots. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza]

On July 4th, NPR did a nice radio piece about the WASP and the gold medal. Listen here.

Copyright, All Rights Reserved, EverydayCitizen.com
Excerpts are permitted for reprinting provided links to this page and attribution provided. For permission to reprint larger sections or to use photographs, please contact the author at everydaycitizen at yahoo dot com.