Spirit of the WASP

What inspires you to do more than you thought you ever could?  What inspires you to dream bigger, strive harder, and reach higher than you ever could have imagined?   In trying to answer those questions and the all-important final question,  “What inspired you to DO what you DO?” I need to start with the WASP, beginning with the first WASP in my life, my mom.   

Imagine being around (or more appropriately surrounded by) a determined, dynamic, passionate, patriotic, smart, spunky, stubborn (but in the good way), amazing, opinionated, optimistic, encouraging, unstoppable woman — and I’m just getting warmed up!  I could go on.

Long story short, imagine meeting and  listening to 100 or more women with those same attributes?  Yes, all the WASP I’ve met are just like mom, completely, utterly and absolutely inspirational.

Once you meet a WASP, the one thing you do not want to do is to disappoint them, and you find yourself striving to exceed their expectations.   Why?  Because the inspiration that comes from the WASP is not just about flying.  It is about courage and patriotism, and about doing your absolute best while you are being scrutinized, weighed, measured and tested by some who just might be rooting for you to fail.  It’s about rising above the ordinary and doing the “extra” ordinary, about commitment, persistence, honor, sacrifice, service, faith, and living a life for the cause greater than yourself. 

It is contagious.

My mission to share the inspirational history of the WASP began with my big idea, “Mom, let’s interview a few of the WASP in Texas and share their stories online.”  “No,” said mom, “if you interview ONE WASP you need to interview THEM ALL.”  “Mom,” said I, “That’s impossible.”  She quickly shot back, “With God’s help, nothing is impossible.”  Guess she told me!

And so it began.  Our partnership and our journey across 19 states, 110 interviews, countless web pages, and outside the box projects later.   Almost twenty years have passed, and I am certain of one thing; I am still inspired by the WASP.  

Through it all, I have been guided by God’s hand, my mother, the WASP’ gentle encouragement and participation, and the spirit of the WASP. Needless to say, I have never walked alone. 

I’ve been uplifted by these American heroines, and by their stories, their service and their humility.  My wish for all of you is that the spirit of the WASP encourage you and inspire you to ‘fly' higher than you’ve ever flown in absolutely everything you do.  If you need help, ask a WASP!

God bless you all,

Nancy

Nancy Parrish is the Executive Director of Wings Across America a digital history project located just off the campus of Baylor University in Waco, Texas.  If you'd like to know more, visit wingsacrossamerica.org!

*originally published in the Women in Aviation Conference daily news blast  

March, 2015

Congressional Record honoring Wings Across America & WASP

July 31, 2009:  Congressman Chet Edwards of Texas officially adds 'extension of remarks' into the Congressional Record, honoring the service of the WASP and the Waco based "Wings Across America" project:

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Speaker,

I rise as an original co-sponsor of this bill, which honors a group of courageous women pilots—all of whom earned their wings in Texas. During World War II, Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP, were stationed at 2 air bases located in Waco, Texas: Waco Army Air Field and Blackland Army Air Base.

One of the 38 members of WASP who died while flying for their country was killed in Waco while flight-testing a BT–13 to make sure that it had been properly repaired. Bettie Mae Scott was killed on July 8, 1944, her body sent home in a cheap pine box, with not so much as an American flag draping her coffin.

Madam Speaker, my district not only played an important part in the history of the WASP, my district is also the home of WASP Deanie Parrish, a Martin Marauder B-26 pilot, who towed a sleeved target behind her aircraft while a B–24 would pass by and gunnery trainees in the turrets would practice for combat by firing live ammunition, using color coated bullets, at the target.

Wings Across America, founded by Deanie’s daughter, Nancy Parrish, located at Baylor University, has played a key role in the creation and implementation of the bill we have before us today. Along with interviewing over 100 WASP, creating the website, ‘‘WASP on the Web,’’ founding the National WASP WWII Museum in Sweetwater, Texas in 2003 and creating all the exhibits for the opening of the museum in 2005, successfully nominating the WASP for the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, and designing and creating the ‘‘Fly Girls of WWII’’ WASP exhibit, which is now on display at the Women’s Memorial at Arlington, these 2 volunteers have worked tirelessly to educate and inspire America with the history of the WASP.

This bill honors the WASP and places the WASP history in the national spotlight, where I believe it rightly belongs.

Jakob Stewart, Office of Congressman Edwards presents Nancy Parrish w/ official 'remarks'