Then and now:  Gerry Osborne at age 92, holds her picture from 1944 when she was a U.S. Navy volunteer with the 1944 WAVES during World War II.

The stars and stripes will forever fly at the Castro Valley home of Gerry Osborne who volunteered for the U.S. Navy long before women were allowed to become commissioned members.

“I am still very patriotic and always will be,” explained 92-year-old Osborne who was flown to Washington DC last month in recognition for her volunteer service with the Women

Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) during 1943 to 1946.

The trip was free for Osborne through the “Honor Flight” organization which flies veterans to the Nation’s Capitol to salute their service and to visit he war memorials there.

Serving in flight line operations, Osborne assigned aircraft to servicemen passing through San Diego Naval Air Base where she was stationed for three years.

Upon completing her duty she went to college and earned her teaching degree. Thirty-three years ago she retired after a rewarding 33 year career teaching in San Leandro and Castro Valley.

Osborne keeps a busy volunteering schedule at Eden Hospital and stays in touch with a number of WAVE members she served with who now live in San Diego, New York and Michigan. She says she had a wonderful time helping the country during its time of need.

Says Osborne: “I truly was proud to be a part of the Navy, I met a lot of good friends and had a lot of fun.”