Three Sisters & a WASP Tribute

Marguerite (Ty) Hughes Killen

Born ~ May 16,  1924

Died ~ Jan. 17, 2011

WASP:  Women Air Force Service Pilot

Ty, as I called her was my very best friends Mother.  She was a character and a hero in her time.  She was one of the first WASP's to fly in World War II. She attended civilian pilot training and received her commercial and flight instructor ratings on her 18th birthday and at 20 she graduated as a WASP.  As a teenager she spent most of her time at Fly Field in Yuma, AZ servicing planes and learning all about them.  She was flying planes when she was 15.  She later was a flight instructor and a teacher.

All records of the WASP were classified and sealed for 35 years, so their contributions to the war effort were little known and inaccessible to historians. In 1975, under the leadership of Col. Bruce Arnold, son of General Hap Arnold, the WASPs fought the "Battle of Congress" in Washington, D.C., to belatedly obtain recognition as veterans of World War II.

On July 1, 2009 President Barack Obama and the United States Congress awarded the WASP the Congressional Gold Medal.

Ty and Shauna (my BFF) before the award ceremony

As a small tribute I created Three Flying Hearts one for each daughter with three roses that were Ty's favorite flower and also representing her three daughters.

Flyer's Prayer

When this life I'm in is done, And at the gates I stand,

My hope is that I answer all  his questions on command.

I doubt He'll ask me of my fame, Or all the things I knew,

Instead He'll ask of rainbows sent On rainy days I flew.

The hours logged, the status reached The ratings will not matter,

He'll ask me if I saw the rays

And did you see the twinkling eyes,

Of student pilots keen?

The way your heart jumped in your chest,  That special solo day -

Did you take time to thank the ones

Who fell along the way?

Remember how the runway lights Looked one night long ago

When you were lost and found your way, And how - you still don't know?

How fast, how far, how much, how high? He'll ask me not these things

But did I take the time to watch The moonbeams wash my wings?

And did you see the patchwork fields And mountains I did mold,

The mirrored lakes and velvet hills,

Of these did I behold?

The wind He flung along my wings, On final almost stalled,

And did I know it was His name,

That I so fearfully called?

And when the goals are reached at last, 

When all the flying's done,

I'll answer Him with no regret -

Indeed, I had some fun.

So when these things are asked of me, And I can reach no higher,

My prayer this day - His hand extends

To welcome home a Flyer.

by Patrick J. Phillips