Dames
February Evening Program
at Sunset Ridge Country Club
There was plenty to interest everyone as Dames and their guests gathered at Northfield’s Sunset Ridge Country Club with Illinois Dame Ann Jones on hand to present “FLY GIRLS: The Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII, A Personal Story”. Ann introduced us to the extraordinary experiences of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) through personal reminiscences about her aunt Carol “Suds” Woodbury Jones Stortz and research on others such as Jacqueline Cochran, Nancy Harkness Love and Cornelia Fort.
In her endearing presentation, she highlighted the critical service of the WASPs to this nation while also acknowledging those who made the ultimate sacrifice. These determined women were always courageous in and out of uniform — and never more so than during the war. Political support was scant, yet the drive to seek military status was eventually achieved through Congress in 1977 thanks to the earlier endorsements of General Hap Arnold, Eleanor Roosevelt, Barry Goldwater and Lindsay Boggs, as well as the tenacity and dedication of many. While the WASPs’ war-time service inspires many to this day, their role in this nation’s history finally received appropriate recognition in the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in 2010 in Washington DC.
Preceded by a vivacious reception of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, along with copious desserts that followed as the perfect night cap to a pleasing evening, attendees warmly welcomed our inaugural Junior Dame, Miss Emma Jackson — who at eleven debuts as Illinois’ youngest admission ever! Our special thanks are also due to Megan Lane Reed for allowing us the use of her club for this well-attended evening, to Peggy Bodine for assisting with the ongoing sale of our Illinois Society scarves and scarf rings, and to Mary Carter, Christy Coon and Joan Shannahan for their hospitality in welcoming our guests. In gratitude, an honorarium was made to our Patriotic Service fund on behalf of Ann.
– Carla Carstens Herr, Chair, Programs Committee
