As we celebrate Veterans Day, let’s take a moment to remember the remarkable history of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), too. Their story reminds us that the term “veteran” and the rights associated with it are not etched in stone, unaltered for time eternal. Rather that designation is granted by the state and is therefore susceptible to the vicissitudes of Capitol Hill politics. Nevertheless, from the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (precursor to the Veterans Administration) in the aftermath of the Civil War to equitably extending GI Bill benefits to all who served in WWII, veterans’ tenacity ensured the state kept the promises it made - both implicit and explicit - in exchange for their faithful service to the nation. As the U.S. moves from a perennial war footing to peacetime, with thousands of citizen-soldiers becoming citizen-veterans each year, it becomes imperative for us to remember the debts we owe to previous generations who safeguarded our democracy because, as the history of the WASPs has shown, it is far too easy for us to forget. (Source: DoD 11/11/21) Women Airforce Service Pilots and their fight for veteran status > Air Force > Article Display (af.mil)
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