Female WWII pilots kept from national cemetery

A rule change is keeping a group of female US pilots who flew noncombat missions during World War II from having their ashes laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

The women, known as WASPs, served in a special unit called Women Airforce Service Pilots. They flew noncombat missions to free up male pilots for combat.

During the war, the women were considered civilians. But since 1977, federal law has granted them status as veterans. Since 2002, they had been eligible to have their ashes placed at Arlington with military honors.