Alumna Receives Congressional Gold Medal

Alumna Rita “Edna” Murphy Wischmeyer ’43, along with about 200 other women who served as Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II, received a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor given by the U.S. Congress, on March 10th.

Alumna Receives Congressional Gold Medal

Nearly 200 WASPs attended the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony accompanied by their proud friends and family members, including Wischmeyer with six of her children and friends.

Alumna Receives Congressional Gold Medal

Rita "Edna" Murphy Wischmeyer '43

Alumna Receives Congressional Gold Medal

Wischmeyer was one of more than 1,000 women air force service pilots during World War II.

Alumna Receives Congressional Gold Medal

Wischmeyer was a sophomore at Emmanuel when she was inspired by a newspaper article about a government civilian pilot training program at Northeastern University.