A Rosie the Riveter Takes Aim During Reading Air Show’s WWII Weekend 2013

Post #48 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

Rosie the Riveter Reenactor

Kendra and I fill orders from our Rosie the Riveter Legacy Gear all year around. Of course, Halloween is our busiest time, but there are so many other reasons and occasions to wear the Rosie bandana, Rosie employment pin and Rosie zipper pull, to sip coffee or tea from our Rosie red and white polka dot mug, to pose in front of our DIY Rosie Poster, etc.

And we sometimes get an email to let us know how our Rosie the Riveter products are used. Last night, I got a wonderful email from Ken C. He purchased our red and white polka dot bandana as a surprise for Celia C. Here’s his note:

Fortunately, I was able to surprise Celia. She didn’t know she was attending [the Reading, Pennsylvania Air Show’s WWII Weekend] as a reenactor until we were in the hotel room the night before the event and I gave her all the stuff to wear. I even made a custom ID badge for her. It has her picture and “North American Aviation 1943.”

Celia standing by B-25 Mitchell Yankee Warrior

This was Celia’s first time at Reading and she was worried that no one would know who she was supposed to be. But from the minute she set foot on the airfield she was immediately referred to as “Rosie” by everyone from little kids to WWII veterans.

The group we were with had a Browning machine gun that they allowed her to fire during a demonstration. It was the first time she ever fired a gun (go figure).

Thank you for your assistance in making a great weekend for both of us.

Kendra and I loved the video and thought we’d share it with you. Celia’s expression is priceless.

Thanks Ken for sending us the photo and video and for letting us see one of our Rosie the Riveter bandanas used in a reenactment.