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Health & Fitness

Rosie the Riveter

Today I am grateful for all of the Rosie the Riveters.  I saw the most amazing segment on Good Morning America yesterday.  If you search Rosie the Riveter Good Morning America you can watch it, too.

 

Of course, I knew about Rosie the Riveter.  Believe it or not I did learn something in history class.  But it never occurred to me until yesterday how ground breaking that period of time was for the women of America.  It was the beginning of “seeing” women as equal partners in the work force.  We still have a little way to go on the “equal” part in some fields, but before then women simply didn’t work outside of the home.

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One of the women, all of whom were in their eighties or nineties, had written letters to the White House for years, trying to get some recognition for the Rosie’s and their devotion to the World War II war effort.  She wanted to be appreciated, remembered and valued.  Don’t we all?  At first I felt a little sad for her as she clung to this burning need for something that happened so long ago.  But upon thinking about it, I get it.  It’s never too late to be thanked.  Thank you.

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Hers was a generation of true patriots.  For good or bad, they didn’t question, they just did.  If the government needed them, they were there, sacrificing whatever was necessary.  Their men were fighting overseas and it was the least they could do.  They kept busy so that they wouldn’t know how many months went by between letters.  There was no skype or email or even faxes or phone calls.  There were letters.  Written in foxholes.  Babies were months old before their dad’s knew they were even born.  Family members were in their graves long before their soldier sons or uncles knew.  Soldiers were dead for weeks before families were notified by the dreaded knock on the door.  This generation of women is used to waiting.  I’m glad their wait is over. 

 

This amazing woman, being hugged by Vice President Biden and kissed by President Obama, said, “Now my descendants will know I was someone.”  A powerful statement.  Isn’t it what we all want?  To “be” someone.

 

I’m grateful these Rosie the Riveter’s got their long over-due recognition.  Sadly they didn’t feel it, but they always were “someone”.   Special individuals. . .just like you. . .just like me.

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