Congresswoman Debbie Dingell honors two local Rosies

By Marian Caldwell
Van Buren Township
Some people say that history is ancient and why should anyone care about what has happened in the past?
Well, stop and think about how we Americans were saved from a possible dictatorship if we had not fought for our freedom in World War II.
There are women who were housewives that decided they wanted to support their men in the military by working in a hot factory building airplanes, one every 55 minutes, to be shipped to our soldiers overseas in the 1940s.
Instead of saying Hail to the Chief we might be saying Heil!
These woman were called “Rosie the Riveters” because that was part of their job of building military planes. Their job was tedious, hot, and stressful but nothing stopped these women. The sacrifice was necessary because they were backing up the men who had been called to war duty in the European Theatre.
Recently a special honor ceremony was held at the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti for Original Rosie the Riveters: Phyllis Roullier of Belleville and Mary Serge of Allen Park. Both ladies worked at the Willow Run factory during World War II building airplanes which were flown to our military overseas.
Both ladies were honored with Congressional Recognition Awards for their valuable service by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell along with Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo and Superior Township Treasurer Brenda McKinney.
Congresswoman. Dingell applauded these women who have been waiting for their awards for over 70 years by a rousing commendation of their value to this country. They are now officially recognized as part of the “Original Rosie the Riveter” organization.
Both “Rosies” are in their 90s and still going strong.