news

With just under three weeks to go before their monumental event, organizers today said a new Guinness World Record of people dressed as Rosie the Riveter, in one place, is within reach.

The event is occurring on Saturday, Oct. 24. Co-chaired by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell and Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo, the gathering is taking place at historic Willow Run Airport in Hangar 1, 801 Kirk Profit Dr., Ypsilanti, beginning at 10 a.m.

“We’re seeing an uptick in the advance registrations of girls and women pledging to come dressed in the correct Rosie the Riveter uniform,” said Emily Zelmanski, Costume Committee chairperson. “There’s definitely momentum building and a whole lot of buzz about us on social media.”

The Michigan Aerospace Foundation, Yankee Air Museum, Wayne County Airport Authority and AVFlight are jointly sponsoring this event and are excited the effort shines a bright light on the effort to save part of the original Willow Run Bomber Plant, a structure adjacent to the world record attempt venue.

Zelmanski explained that until August 15, 2015, the world record for “Largest gathering of women dressed as Rosie the Riveter” resided in this community. Willow Run’s record was broken by 1,084 women on Aug. 15 at the National Rosie the Riveter Park in Richmond, Calif. She said Dingell and Stumbo were inspired and quick to take up the challenge.

“World War II was a watershed era in so many ways, but for women and industry, the revolution that started right here, by the original Rosie the Riveter, has made all the difference,” said Dingell. “I’m calling on female leaders, of all ages, to honor women in the workplace now and remember the colossal might women brought to the war effort building B-24 Liberator bombers here. Come and have some fun with us, dressed like Rosie, and we’ll make history again.”

During World War II, the Bomber Plant produced 8,685 B-24 Liberator Bombers and employed more than 40,000 men and women. One of these was riveter Rose Will Monroe, more famously remembered as “Rosie the Riveter.” In 2014, a total of 776 women dressed like the woman in the iconic “We Can Do It!” poster bringing global attention to the campaign to Save the Bomber Plant.

Click here to read the full story.