Our district faces severe challenges. It will take all of us working hard together to create job and education opportunities. Our voices need to be heard in Washington.
We need new energy. It is not about being right or following a certain ideology; it is about fixing the problems.
Please join me in my campaign to tackle the tough issues we face. I would love to hear your ideas and thoughts. Together, we can build a future far greater than the past.
By CHRIS TRAINOR
McCORMICK — For the past 16 years, the Third District Congressional seat has been occupied by a Republican.
Jane Dyer is attempting to buck that trend.
Dyer, a former captain in the Air Force and a pilot for FedEx for the last 20 years, was the keynote speaker at Tuesday night’s McCormick County Democratic Party Convention.
by Perryn Freeman on March 10, 2010
Today in Washington, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) received their much overdue Congressional Gold Medal, one of America’s highest civilian honors. These women were finally recognized for their tremendous contribution to our military success in WWII.
I stand humbly on their shoulders. As a female Air Force Pilot from 1981-1988, I owe my aviation career to these courageous women. For every road we travel, there are those who cleared the path for us.
“The Women Airforce Service Pilots courageously answered their country’s call in a time of need while blazing a trail for the brave women who have given and continue to give so much in service to this nation since,” President Obama commented. “Every American should be grateful for their service.”
According to ABC News, of the more than 50,000 women who applied, only 1,830 were accepted and 1,074 graduated from the training program. These women were stationed at 120 army air bases around the world. Their duties involved everything from ferrying planes to training fighter pilots to chemical missions, but they were barred from taking part in actual combat.
During my Air Force days at Laughlin Air force Base, TX, we were invited to join the WASP at a reunion luncheon for all the women who flew in West Texas.
The most amazing story I heard was from a pilot who lived in the Northeast. When her children had grown and were just finishing college, they took a trip to San Antonio. She gave them the name of a dear old friend of hers to look up. They were able to locate the woman in the phone book and stopped in to see her.
During the course of the conversation, the old friend referred to their flying days during WWII. The grown children were sure that their Mother had never flown an airplane. The old friend assured them that their mother had indeed been a WASP.
The children returned home to question their Mother. She admitted that she had flown during WWII as a WASP but had never mentioned it in deference to her husband’s wishes.
Remarkable women with remarkable stories. Sixty-six years is a long time to wait, but may each of those still living revel in the pride we have of our Women Airforce Service Pilots. I personally thank them not only for their service, but also for clearing the path for me.
by Jane Dyer on March 10, 2010
