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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- They made history as the first women trained to fly for the military.

They were known as WASPs, or Women Airforce Service Pilots, and they paved the way for women pilots of today.

Millicent Young, a former WASP, lives right here in Colorado Springs.

It has been nearly 70 years since Young served her country in World War II, but last week was the first time the United States government recognized her efforts.

"Today the accomplishments of the WASPS will be written large in our nation's history. But as others have said, we know that this day comes too late for some,” said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at an award ceremony on March 10.  

Fewer than 300 of the more than 1000 original WASPs were finally honored last week with Congressional Gold Medals in Washington D.C.

"I was kind of excited about it. I was surprised. I think it impressed on the rest of the world that what we had done really did change the way people perceive women, particularly women pilots. We could do anything that the men could do," said Young.

Young decided at the age of 6 she was going to be a pilot and worked hard to pay her own way through training.

"I farmed to get the money and when I got enough money I told my mother I wanted to go to town to buy clothes to go to college," said Young.

But she never planned on buying clothes.

"The bus was going the wrong direction and I waited until the very last moment, and I run and I got on the bus and I said to my mother, 'I'm going to learn to fly.' So she went home and my dad said, 'I got a chore for Millie.' And mom says, 'She's gone to learn to fly, and my dad said, ‘Well I’ll be damned.’ And that was the end of the conversation. He was proud of me. They were all proud of me," said Young.

Young earned her wings and became part of the Army Air Corps at the age of 20. She served her country until the WASPs were decommissioned in 1944.

"We were kicked out when the boys came back from overseas. They closed the WASP program and we had to pay our own way home," said Young.

For most WASPs it was never about the recognition, it was about doing what they loved.

"They kept talking about our sacrifice. I didn't sacrifice anything. I was making an investment, in my country and in me," said Young.

Despite all of the obstacles Young faced becoming a pilot ,she says the hardest thing she ever did was raise five children.