[ASTalumna06]

This was posted on our sorority's Facebook page today, and I think it's such a cool story!

In honor of International Badge Day, here is a story about one heroic sister and how much she cared for her Badge and all that it represented to her.

The year was 1927 and Mildred Doran, Alpha, lost her life over the Pacific ocean while participating in the Dole Trans-Pacific Air Race as she tried to become part of the first flight team to fly from California to Hawaii.

Mildred, a schoolteacher from Flint, Michigan, was the only woman to enter the Dole race. In a time period when it was rare for women to fly, Mildred said, “A woman should fly just as easily as a man... Women certainly have the courage and tenacity required for long flights.”

Unfortunately the airplane, named Miss Doran, was one of two aircraft during the Dole race that didn’t reach Hawaiian land safely. In the race, Mildred proudly wore her Alpha Sigma Tau Badge and Alpha Chapter guard. She passed away following her dreams and keeping Alpha Sigma Tau close to her heart.

Her bravery was not overlooked. The Canadian province of Ontario named a lake -- Lake Doran -- in her name, and her story has been shared through many national outlets, such as the Smithsonian's Air and Space Magazine.

Find more resources regarding information on Mildred here: http://alphasigmatau.org/mildred-dor...-on-badge-day/