Nine-Year Old Shows Rosie the Riveter Speaks to All Age Groups

Post #37 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

Halloween is coming and Rosie the Riveter just may be showing up at your door. We know of at least one 9-year-old who will proudly be wearing her Rosie Gear for Halloween.

Last night we got this fabulous photograph from one of our customers. She bought our all-new DIY Rosie: The Ultimate Rosie the Riveter Legacy Portrait Kit. But before I tell you about the kit, I’d like to introduce you to Casie.

Here’s what Casie’s mother told us:

“My daughter has been interested in the women of WWII ever since her best friend studied the war last year. He dressed up as General Patton. She wanted to prove to him that girls were just as tough. We ordered your DIY Rosie: The Ultimate Rosie the Riveter Legacy Portrait Kit and Casie is going to be Rosie for Halloween. She wanted me to send you her picture.

“She is 9 years old and she is inspired. Thanks so much!! My great aunt was a WASP in WWII. Never underestimate the power of a woman!”

Thanks. We’re so proud to see Casie in her Rosie Gear. She already shows the strength, courage, and empowerment that Rosie the Riveter stood for.

And Casie, we thought you’d like to see this anonymous quote that is displayed at the Rosie the Riveter Memorial as it highlights the vital role women played in winning World War II.

“You must tell your children, putting modesty aside, that without us, without women, there would have been no spring in 1945.”

Yes, the men (and some women) went to war. But they could not have gone if there were not women here making the ships and planes needed for the war as well as taking over the milions of jobs previously handled only by men.

Interested in our Rosie DIY Kit?

As with all of our products, there is a story behind this kit. Our newest product is designed to meet the needs of our customers. Last year, we got photos from our customers showing them “Doing the Rosie” in front of handmade posters. It was clear they wanted to pose just like the real Rosie. We decided to help out. We copied the original J. Howard Miller illustration, right down to Miller’s signature, but without Rosie’s portrait in the center. Now generations of women can make their own Rosie portrait.

But that’s not all. This is the Ultimate Rosie the Riveter Legacy Portrait Kit because it includes everything an Aspiring Rosie needs (except work clothes and shoes). Here’s what you get:

Rosie “We Can Do It!” Portrait Background Poster (24″ x 32″)

Original Rosie the Riveter Legacy Bandana (27″ x 27″)

Rosie the Riveter Employment Badge Collar Pin

Rosie the Riveter Employment Badge Zipper Pull

Rosie’s Rivets and Polka-Dot Bag (pretty organza bag filled with real metal rivets)

Rosie the Riveter Legacy Cookbook (recipes popular during the war years)

Rosie’s War Ration Book (because Rosie never left home without hers)

Heavy-duty cardboard mailing tube and shipping label (making this a great gift for a mother, daughter, granddaughter or dear friend)

We recently heard from another customer. She had a luncheon with the theme of women and courage. In addition to the DIY Rosie Portrait Kit, she purchased additional items. Each guest got a Rosie bandana plus Rosie collar/employment pin plus a Rosie the Riveter cookbook* and Rosie’s Ration Book*. She mounted the poster from the kit and the women posed in front of it. We’re eager to see these photos and will share with you.

How will you use yours?

*We don’t usually sell our Rosie the Riveter Cookbooks and Rosie’s Ration Book separately. However, if you are having a party and want to use these are favors, just send us an email with the number you want and we’ll send you a quote.

And Casie, one more thing. We wear our Rosie the Riveter Zipper Pull all year round on vests, jackets, sweaters… well, just about everything that has a zipper. When we wear ours, we’ll think about you and hope you’re wearing the one that came in your DIY Rosie Kit.

PS After we posted this great story and photos, we had a lovely email from the mother of General Patton who was mentioned above. She graciously sent us her son’s photo. We thought you’d enjoy seeing it.

Here’s what his mother wrote:

“You wrote an article about a little girl named Casie that will be Rosie the Riveter for Halloween. She talked about a little boy that studied WWII and dressed up as General Patton. That little General Patton is my son Jonathan, Casie’s best friend. He has been fascinated with WWII since he before he turned 5 and probably knows more than most adults do about WWII. I am so glad that he has inspired Casie to be Rosie the Riveter and I can’t tell you how great these two kids are.”