EDITORIAL: On holiday, remember all who served

Published 9:07 pm Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Memorial Day is this weekend, and for many that means a three-day weekend for travel or barbecuing with friends.

But Memorial Day is a time to honor the military men and women who died in service to their country, particularly those who died in battle.

It’s also a time to remember all who served honorably, either in combat or in the support roles that keep the military running.

Today’s A1 story by Lauren Thompson focuses on one of those frequently overlooked members of the military — Lora Jane Cunningham, who served with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II. The WASP performed flight operations for the military, enabling their male counterparts to go into active combat.

The program disbanded after the war, and for many years, the WASP were one of the forgotten stories of World War II. However, earlier this year, Congress recognized these women by awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal. Although it was more than 60 years after their service — and many WASP didn’t live to see the honor — it’s gratifying to see these women finally being thanked for their sacrifice.