Beverly Kearney's life is all about speed and winning. She's the legendary head coach of the University of Texas women's track and field team. Under her leadership, the Longhorns have claimed six national 
As soon as her mother's car pulled away, Cathy Harper Lee always counted the blades of grass on the lawn. She hoped to reach a high number. That meant a few moments alone before her step-father ordered her inside. 
March 12, 2010
Deanie Parrish was only 21 when she joined Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in 1943 and became part of the monumental effort to defeat fascism during World War II.
A total of 1,100 other women were part of WASP during the war, and became instrumental to the allied victory by flying civilian missions at home to free up male pilots so they could join the front.
Many are no longer alive, but Parrish, now 88, and 175 surviving female war pilots travelled to Washington, DC earlier this week to be honored with the Congressional Gold Medal.
"Everybody was doing something [during the war]," she told CNN in an interview before the ceremony. "I wanted to do something for my country."
Speaking at the March 10 event, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the stories of the women pilots of WWII continue to inspire six decades later.
"Answering our country's call, the WASPs demonstrated courage, patriotism, excellence and competence," she said. "Their bravery inspires and awes us; their success allowed the success of generations since and generations to come."
An estimated 300,000 Americans died and a similar number were wounded in foreign wars.
Since Americans continue to be involved in war zones around the world, individuals suffering from the aftermath of violent conflicts may turn to the Trauma Resource Institute. The American Red Cross is another prominent non-profit organization that helps war victims around the world and accepts donations.
