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LTC Stephen F.
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Edited 9 y ago
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Sgt Kelli Mays there are already many women pilots, including WASPS since 2002, buried in Arlington National cemetery. The current issue is about the ashes of those pilots who were cremated because there is limited space in the place where ashes are stored in the Arlington columbarium.
[2015-01-07 update] I added some pictures of the Arlington columbarium which takes up a fairly large area and is well organized and a place which shows respect for each of the dead whose ashes are there.
"Granted veteran status in 1977, the WASPs have been eligible to have their ashes placed at Arlington with military honors since 2002."
"Women in the military can seem like a modern advancement, but as these women show – we’ve had women nurses, doctors, and officers sacrifice in every war. There are many more women buried in Arlington National Cemetery, from wives of great Generals, to combat pilots who were killed in action. This self guided tour takes you around the cemetery as a whole to remember some notable women and their acts of selflessness and valor." - See more at: http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/self-guided-tour-notable-women-buried-arlington-national-cemetery/#sthash.ifUlXIaC.dpuf
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
9 y
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Sgt Kelli Mays - Here is an image of the Arlington columbarium which stretches over a large area and is pleasant to look at and walk through. I am pretty sure you have not visited the site otherwise you would not be rushing to clutter it up with a hastily constructed addition.
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
5 y
Excellent Information!
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
5 y
Don’t really think that’s the reason. It has to do with space. So, the solution would to construct more storage for ashes. You have to remember service personnel from earlier wars were buried in caskets. Now almost everyone is being cremated. I don’t believe this concept was considered when Arlington was created. Sgt Kelli Mays
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
5 y
My father was Army Air Corps during WWII and USAF during Korea. I had a devil of a time acquiring my Father’s medals for his shadow box. The Army gave me what he earned when he was Air Corps and the USAF gave me what he was awarded during that period of service. It was not an easy feat to accomplish; however after a little over a year, I obtained all of his ribbons and medals. Nancy PO1 John Miller
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CPT Military Police
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Edited 9 y ago
Sgt Kelli Mays This issue isn't a male/female one. The issue is about a ruling which excludes those classified as "active duty designees" from internment at Arlington. The Merchant Marine's (250,000) are the largest number of those affected by a ruling. All those who were classified as "active duty designees" from the era of WWII are ineligible for the placement of their Urns at Arlington.


LTC Stephen F. CPT L S PO1 John Miller MAJ Dave Brady PVT Robert Gresham Jacob Hollander SSG (Join to see) SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" Capt Tom Brown Capt Seid Waddell SSG Jason Penn SFC Stephen King Cpl Kenneth Darby
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CPT Military Police
CPT (Join to see)
9 y
Jacob Hollander They are not apples and oranges. WASPS and Merchant Marines are civilians with a military designation.
The WASP organization was a paramilitary aviation organization for female civilian pilots employed to fly military aircraft under the direction of the Air force. The women were classified as "active duty designees"
The Merchant Marines are civilian mariners who occupy a fleet of U.S. civilian and federally owned ships, the Merchant Marine can be an auxiliary to the Navy, and can be called upon to deliver military personnel and materiel for the military. The men were also classified as "active duty designees".
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PO1 John Miller
PO1 John Miller
9 y
CPT (Join to see) and Jacob Hollander
WWII Merchant Marines are eligible for burial in Arlington, if I'm reading correctly:
http://www.cem.va.gov/burial_benefits/eligible.asp

Please note section E.

With that said, I agree with CPT Cannonie. If both groups have veterans status, why does one group (WASPs) not have the right to be buried in Arlington and other national cemeteries?

So no, not apples and oranges. Both groups have been granted veteran status.
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
5 y
Very logical and respectful way of honoring these brave women and men. Jacob Hollander
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
5 y
Well stated!Jacob Hollander
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Capt Seid Waddell
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Of course.
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