Iconic WWII ‘Rosie the Riveters’ honored at US capital

Former Rosie the Riveters watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Tuesday, March 22, 2016 in Arlington, Va. Seven decades after their “we can do it” attitude proved invaluable to the Allied victory in World War II, some “Rosie the Riveters” were honored Tuesday with a visit to Washington. AP

In recognition of Women’s History Month, 31 original “Rosie the Riveters” were honored on Tuesday (March 29) in Washington, D.C. for their enormous contribution in the victory of the United States in World War II, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The 31 brave women were assigned to work in American factories during the World War II, and their contribution to munitions and war equipment production anchored the victory of the Allied powers of US, Great Britain, and France. All the ‘Rosies’ worked at Ford’s Willow Run bomber plant in Ypsilanti in the state of Michigan during the war.

Hailing from Michigan, the women flew from Detroit Metro Airport to the capital to receive a multitude of handshakes and heart-warming ’Thank You’s’ from the crowd who witnessed the historic event. When they arrived at Reagan International Airport, a hefty crowd welcomed them with songs and waving flags. They ended their short trip at the WWII Memorial and the Arlington National Cemetery where another crowd cheered for them.

The ‘Rosies’ who graced the event are all in their 90s, and they arrived at D.C. with their family members and were escorted to the US Capitol by Michigan congresswomen Debbie Dingell and Candice Miller. Both women representatives thanked the ‘Rosies’ for entrenching women empowerment and contributing to the WWII Arsenal of Democracy, a legendary slogan promoted by US President Franklin Roosevelt.

‘Rosie the Riveter’ was a caricature that originated from Rosie Will Monroe, one of the 15,000 women who tirelessly worked in the plant. Monroe became the generic icon of women suffrage during the war era. Pictured as a white-skinned lady wearing a red bandana and flexing her muscles, ‘Rosie the Riveter’ became a momentous symbol of the feminist movement in the US.

Inside the 3.5 million sq ft (32.5 million sq m) of factory space and a mile-long assembly line of aircraft, the Willow Run bomber plant manufactured a total of 8,685 B-24 Liberator bombers.

In October last year, more than 2,000 women, including 43 original Rosies, reunited at the former Willow Run bomber plant to reclaim the Guinness world record for the largest gathering of Rosie the Riveters since WWII. Gianna Catolico, INQUIRER.net 

Former Rosie, Frances Reeck signs a Rosie the Riverter poster, Tuesday, March 22, 2016 in Washington. Seven decades after their “we can do it” attitude proved invaluable to the Allied victory in World War II, some “Rosie the Riveters” were honored Tuesday with a visit to Washington. AP