Faribault Tribune - Klobuchar Calls on Senate to Allow Female Pilots to Be Buried at Arlington Following House Passage
News Article
By: Brad Phenow
United States Senator Amy Klobuchar is calling on the Senate to pass bipartisan legislation she supports to allow female World War II pilots to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery following the passage of the WASP Arlington Inurnment Restoration (WASP AIR) Act this week in the House.
The Army currently does not permit Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) to be buried at Arlington.
Earlier this month, Elizabeth "Betty" Strohfus, a native of Faribault, who was one of the last remaining WASPs passed away at the age of 96.
Klobuchar has advocated to the Secretaries of Defense and the Army to allow the brave women who flew missions during World War II to have their ashes laid to rest at Arlington.
Last week, Klobuchar and a bipartisan group of her colleagues in the Senate and House called on the Army to allow WASPs to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
"During World War II, more than 1,000 Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) served in the United States military. While we aren't going to be able to change history, we can change how they're honored," Klobuchar said. "I had the honor of getting to know one of them, Betty Strohfus of Faribault, who passed away at the age of 96 earlier this month. While Betty wanted to be buried with her family, she stood up for her fellow WASP sisters and fought for them to have the same rights as other veterans and to be given the option to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The House took a step forward this week to allow these brave women to be buried at Arlington and now the Senate should do the same by passing our bipartisan legislation."
Klobuchar sent a letter in January to the Secretaries of Defense and Army requesting that the Army allow the brave women who flew missions during World War II to have their ashes laid to rest at the cemetery.
Klobuchar met with Strohfus in Faribault in January to discuss this issue with her. Strohfus taught male cadets how to fly warplanes and ferried B-17 bombers across the country during World War II.
Source