Rosie, I Salute You!

This story presented it's "spark" to me today by means of an e-mail. The latest Sampler from Dover Publications hit my in-box. Dover is a publications website which also deals in books, many of the educational nature, which are ideal clip-art sources. I've seen quite a few credits to Dover on scrapbook websites. Their images, particularly thier "vintage" offerings, are not only realistic, but, they are the best of their genre that there is offered on the net. Having explained all of this, leading in to this story, is relevant, because of one of the featured "samples" in today's Sampler.

Rosey the Riveter
Pro World War II Propaganda Poster

I have this on a "Smithsonian" magazine cover, framed on my bedroom wall. This image, this iconic woman, has considerable significance to me. For one thing, it's meaning carried over to my growing up years, when "women's" rights and issues were right in the thick of all the other unrest and the demonstrations of the '60's. At a time when I was coming of age, it affected me strongly and helped form me in to the adult I am today.

But, other than providing inspiration, there is another connection that I have with Rosie.

My mother did work in the shipyard in Jacksonville, Florida, during WWII. She didn't do riveting, rather, she made the holes for the rivets. My mother is the second from right.

This might explain why I have always been such an advocate of women's equality when it comes, not just to rights, but, to the entire attitude towards women. We didn't need a world war to prove that women can hold their own.

Here's to you, Momma! And, to all the other "pioneers", I salute you!