A bill signed into law on July 1 by President Obama has awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots of World War II, the first women in American history to fly military aircraft.

More than 60 years ago, these Women Air Force Service Pilots — known as WASPs — flew fighters, bombers, transports and training throughout this country.

Their contribution went largely unrecognized for years, and they were not even acknowledged by the government with veteran status until 1977.

From 1942 to 1943, more than 1,000 women served in the unit and 38 died while performing their missions. In total, the women flew more than 60 million miles on American missions.

The female pilots faced overwhelming cultural and gender bias against women serving in nontraditional roles and overcame injustice to serve their country. Enduring through adversity, these pilots became a catalyst for revolutionary reform in the integration of female pilots into the U.S. military who now serve, among other roles, as combat pilots.

Buses bear VA’s message on suicide prevention

The telephone number for the suicide prevention lifeline of the Department of Veterans Affairs — (800) 273-TALK — is being advertised on more than 21,000 city buses in 124 communities throughout the country until Sept. 1.

Since its inception in July, 2007, the VA suicide prevention lifeline has directly assisted more than 3,000 veterans and provided counseling for more than 120,000 veterans and their loved ones at home and overseas. The lifeline is staffed by trained mental-health professionals.

The ads and public-service announcements are available for viewing online at YouTube and at www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention.

Memorial to fallen Gulf War Seabees is begun

Members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 27 broke ground on June 15 for a memorial to honor Navy Seabees killed in the Gulf wars. The Gulf War Seabee Memorial will be erected on the grounds of the Seabee Museum and Memorial Park, at 21 Iafrate Way in North Kingstown.

Nicholas Fisch, museum president and a Vietnam-era veteran Seabee, said at the ceremony, “This memorial will recognize and honor those individuals who gave their lives in the fight for freedom … and their legacy as builders for peace.” The memorial will include a plaque honoring each fallen Seabee and will feature a flagpole donated by the Quonset Development Corporation. Richard Griffin, of AIA Peterson/Griffin Architects, in Waltham, Mass., a Vietnam War Seabee, designed the memorial. A dedication is planned for 9 a.m. on July 31. For more information or to make donations, call James Rugh at (401) 423-3142, or e-mail him at rugh@cox.net .

Veterans Department awaits Assembly OK

Both the House and the Senate have passed identical measures that would transform the state’s veterans affairs agency from a modest division of the Department of Human Services to a full-fledged department under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

But each chamber’s version still requires action by the other, and with the General Assembly in recess, it is unclear whether the proposal will clear the legislature later this summer.

The bill passed by the House (2009-H 5082Aaa) was introduced by Rep. Kenneth Carter, D-North Kingstown, and the bill passed by the Senate (2009-S 0501A) was sponsored by Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr., D-Warren.

A news release detailing the proposed new department is available online at www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/pr1.asp?prid=5834.

•American Legion

East Greenwich Post 15, 1016 Main St., will meet Monday at 7 p.m.; Post 39 will meet Thursday at 7 p.m., at 1958 Post Rd., Peace Dale.

•Marine Corps League

Higgins Detachment meets at 7 p.m. Monday in the Mainstay Best Western Hotel, 151 Admiral Kalbfus Rd., Newport.

•Korean War Veterans Association

West Bay Chapter 2 will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. in VFW Post 449, 197 Providence St., West Warwick. Northern R.I. Chapter 3 will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Chepachet Senior Center, 1210 Putnam Pike, Chepachet.

•Reserve Officers Association

The department executive committee will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Harwood Army Reserve Center, 385 Niagara St., Providence.

Send veterans’ meeting and news items to George W. Reilly at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or write to The Veterans Journal Column at The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902. Veterans’ meeting and feature items can be read and posted for free at http://projothebeat.com/.