Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Diedre Henderson declared that Sunday as Nell Stevenson Bright Recognition day, in honor of Bright’s contributions during World War II as a member of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP. During WWII this program trained women to test and fairy aircraft so male pilots would be available for overseas combat. According to a tweet from Henderson, more than 25,000 women applied for the program. Not only was Bright one of the about 1,800 women accepted, but she was also one of only about 1,074 to earn her silver wings.
WASPs did not receive veteran status until 1974 when Nell and a small group of WASPs pushed for legislation that provided them honorable discharge and full veteran status.
Nell was raised in Texas and now resides in Salt Lake City.