The first women to take controls of American military planes – way back during World War II – received the Congressional Gold Medal at the Capitol today.

An estimated 175 to 200 members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots were at the ceremony, which was also attended by Congressional leaders and Tom Brokaw, the author of “The Greatest Generation.” (Roughly 300 of the more than 1,000 women in the program are believed to still be alive.)

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According to The Associated Press, Deanie Parrish, one of the pilots, said at the event that she and her fellow aviators “served our country without any expectation of recognition or glory and we did it without compromising the values that we were taught growing up.”

During World War II, the female pilots flew an array of non-combat assignments. They were also considered civilians, meaning they received no benefits or honors – and the families of those killed during their service got no burial assistance.

President Obama signed the bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal – one of the country’s highest civilian honors — last year.