Letter from Chairperson Donna Powers

I am often asked where the inspiration for the Rosie the Riveter Memorial came from and how this project got off the ground. Well, I want you to know the inspiration came from two exceptional women in my family.

My mother-in-law Ruth Powers was a teacher at the Richmond shipyards daycare centers and my great aunt Clarissa Hicks was a riveter at Douglas Aircraft in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The wonderful stories told by Ruth and Clarissa led me to ask other women around Richmond what their jobs and lives were like during WWII.

I soon realized there were many women across this country who deserved to have their stories told. Collectively, these great women deserve recognition for their tremendous achievements during WWII.

Because of the hard work and dedication of the volunteers and the Memorial Committee, the goal for a Rosie the Riveter Memorial in Richmond will soon be realized.

Although I no longer serve on Richmond's City Council, my commitment to the Rosie the Riveter Memorial is still steadfast. 1999 held its frustrations as we worked to get the Memorial on track for construction, but we've always been able to keep our eyes on the goal of honoring all of those women who dedicated themselves to the Home Front cause. They didn't let roadblocks stop them from their remarkable accomplishments!

The interest and feedback we continually receive for the project has helped us stay moving forward. We are so happy to let you know about the National Park Service's proposal for a "Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park," which grew directly out of our efforts to recognize women's labor during WWII. The Historical Park will be an incredible place for people to come and learn about what that generation accomplished in a place that gave more than just about any other American city.

I find the questions we get from young women about that time especially touching. During March (Women's History Month) we field many calls for information about women on the Home Front and try to help people find "Rosies" in their own communities to interview -- it isn't hard, nearly any senior center or house of worship is a good starting place. The essay printed here by Emily Lester, a high school student from Broken Arrow, OK, came out of a telephone conversation she and I had last Spring as she considered what to write for Women's History Month. We are proud of Emily and proud to be able to keep the histories and memories of the "Rosies" alive for future generations.

"We can do it !"