[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10] [Senate] [Page 14044] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ______ TRIBUTE TO ROSE (PENNY) PENN ROSS Mr. BOND. Mr. President, today I wish to thank Rose Penn Ross for her dedicated service to our Nation during World War II. Mrs. Ross, or Penny as she is called, is a retired school teacher who selflessly answered the patriotic call to duty when she enlisted in the Women Airforce Service Pilots--WASP--organization during World War II. Like many of her counterparts in the ``Greatest Generation,'' Penny wanted to help the war effort. As a licensed pilot, Penny wanted to serve by flying planes, and joined 25,000 women in applying for the WASP program. After completing exactly the same rigorous military flight training as her male counterparts, Penny became one of only 1,100 women to receive her Silver Wings. While the WASP organization was not recognized as part of the military until 1977, Penny and the other women serving in WASP played a critical role in the war effort. Within the United States, Penny brought planes from factories to bases, flew experimental aircraft, and towed targets for the gunnery school vital tasks that also freed up male pilots for combat service and duties. Prior to the war, Penny graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in business and earned her master's in education from the University of Missouri. She married her beloved Vernon M. Ross and settled in Missouri. Vernon and Penny started a family, which grew to include four children: Robert, Barbara, David, and Richard; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. After WASP was disbanded in 1944, Penny began her teaching career. She taught secondary school for 30 years in Harrisburg, Glasgow, and Moberly, molding young minds in the subjects of business, math, and French. In addition to her legacy of family and her love of learning, Penny has created a legacy of service to our Nation. Penny, her fellow female pilots, and the countless other men and women who served their nation during World War II made possible the conquering of some of freedom's worst foes of the 20th century: Hitler, Mussolini, and Hirohito. Thanks to the struggles and sacrifices of all of our troops from here at home, to Normandy, Tunisia, Midway, and Guadalcanal, those of us in subsequent generations have lived in relative peace and prosperity. It is only fitting that earlier this year Americans like Penny were recognized for their contributions to the freedom we enjoy today. On March 10, 2010, Mrs. Ross attended the WASP Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony in the U.S. Capitol. With her family by her side, she was presented with a bronze medal replica of the Gold Medal. Today, Penny resides in the Veterans Home-Mexico, MO. Penny, we are grateful for your service to your family, your community, and your country. Your story is an inspiration to people in all generations today who want to make a difference. ____________________