March 17, 2010
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Page 7
^Vomeri ¡n History/Careers
Long Overdue Recognition
Women pilots
blazed trail
We need your input!
(AP) — They flew planes dur­
ing World War II but weren't
considered real military pilots.
No flags were draped over their
coffins when they died on duty.
And when their service ended,
they had to pay their own bus
fare home.
These aviators — all women
— got long-overdue recognition
last week. They received the
Congressional Gold Medal, the
highest civilian honor given by
Congress, in a cerem ony on
Capitol Hill.
About 200 women who served
as W omen Airforce Service Pi­
lots, or WASPs, were on hand to
receive the award. Now mostly
in their late 80s and early 90s,
some came in wheelchairs, many
sported dark blue uniforms, and
one, June Bent of W estboro,
Mass., clutched a framed photo­
graph of a comrade who had
died.
The Oregon Department of Transportation
invites you to a public meeting to discuss
what information we should gather when we
update the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
DISPARITY STUDY later this year
When: March 24,9 a.m.-ll a.m.
Where: ODOT Region 1 Headquarters in Portland
123 Flanders NW, Rooms A & B
Wearing her World War II uniform, aviator Eleanor Brown
o f Victoria, Texas, attends a Congressional Gold Medal
ceremony to honor the Women Airforce Service Pilots or
WASPs. (AP Photo)
In a c c e p tin g th e a w a rd ,
W ASP pilot Deanie Pam sh, 88,
ofW aco, Texas, said the women
had volunteered without expec-
tation of thanks. Their mission
was to fly noncombat missions
to free up male pilots to fly over­
seas.
"We did it because our coun­
try needed us," Parrish said.
Thirty-eight W ASPS were
Women Filmmakers
Showcased in Festival
P o rtla n d ’s h is to ric H o lly ­
w o o d T h e a tre , 4 1 2 2 N .E .
S an d y B lvd. h o sts th e an n u al
W o m e n ’s F ilm F e stiv a l w ith
the w o rk o f to p w o m en d ire c ­
to rs an d c o -d ire c to rs as w ell
as p ro v id in g su p p o rt an d re c ­
o g n itio n fo r th e n e x t g e n e ra ­
tio n o f le a d in g w o m e n f ilm ­
m akers.
T he event takes place T hurs­
day, M arch 18 th ro u g h S u n ­
day, M arch 21.
Forty-four selections o f films,
including features, docum enta­
ries, shorts an d an im ations are
on the schedule. In ad d itio n to
the thought provoking lineup o f
in d ep en d en t film s and d o c u ­
m entaries, there w ill be the o p ­
portunity to participate in film ­
m ak er p an els and talk s w ith
filmmakers.
T h e co m p lete list o f the
festival ’ s program m ing is avail­
able at p o w fe st.c o m .
"S u b scrib e "~ ~ ~ ’
.
JUSt $60 pCF year
Attention: Contractors and
Smail Business Owners
Attn-. Subscriptions, The
Portland Observer, PO Box
3137, Portland OR 97208.
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(please include check)
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N ame : ___
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T elephone :
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A ddress :
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or email subscriptions@portlandobserver.com
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We want your suggestions on what we should
include in the new study, which is a follow­
up to the 2007 Disparity Study.
killed in service in World War II.
But they were long considered
civilians, not members of the
military, and thus were not en-
titled to the pay and benefits
given to men.
They were only afforded vet­
eran status in 1977 after a long
fight. It's estimated that about
300 of the more than 1,000
WASPs are still alive.
For more information, contact
ODOT Office of Civil Rights,
(503) 986-4350
Oregon D ep a rtm e n t
o f Transportation
Advertise with diversity * ///
Portland Observer
Call 503-288-0033
2035 Regional Transportation Plan
and A ir-Q uality C onform ity Report
The Regional Transportation Plan guides investments in the region's
transportation system for all forms of travel. To review these documents,
visit www.oregonmetro.gov/rtp.
Public comment period
March 22 through May 6, 2010
Submit written comments by:
US Mail: RTP Comments, Metro,
600 NE Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97232
Web: www.oregonmetro.gov/rtp
Public hearing
5 p.m. Thursday, May 6, 2010
Metro Council Chamber
600 NE Grand Ave., Portland
(www.trimet.org for current public transit information)
Testimony time is three minutes per person. For the public record, please bring
a written summary of your remarks or be prepared to summarize them on a
comment form at the hearing.
All Metro meetings are wheelchair accessible To request language or sign
interpretation or a hearing device, please call Metro 48 hours in advance at
503-797-1551 or TDD 503-797-1804
Questions: Call Pat Emmerson at 503-797-1551
or send e-mail to rtp@oregonmetro gov.
M etro