(Superintendent Judy Hart will be the MC. You will be introduced by Jim Maddy, President, National Park Foundation. There are many Members of Congress invited so NPF will have to let you know which of the co-chairs and co-hosts appear. There are 25 "Rosies" expected - too many to recognize. They will be sitting with the relevant Members of Congress who will speak after you.)

Thank you, Jim. Good evening. This is a celebration for all of us. Thanks to the National Park Foundation, Ford Motor Company, and all the honorary congressional co-chairs of this wonderful event -
Senators
Dianne Feinstein
Lisa Murkowski
Barbara Boxer
And Craig Thomas

And Representatives
George Miller,
Shelley Moore Capito,
Louise McIntosh Slaughter
And Candice Miller.

All of us know and love the famous poster of Rosie the Riveter. Rosie has her sleeves rolled up with muscles flexed ready to work. Her hair is tied up in a bandana so she can work around dangerous heavy machinery. Her words "We can do it!" convey the infectious spirit of the American work ethic.

Rosie mobilized millions of women who worked in factories making ships, planes, tanks and munitions. Their work helped America and her allies win World War II.

Rosie not only helped win the war she also symbolized the increased independence of American women as they worked in jobs previously considered only fit to be done by men.

Rosie the Riveter is a true American icon.

But with us today we have a treasure far greater than just the poster. With us today are 25 real-life Rosie the Riveters.

Each has a wonderful lesson to teach. There's Leona Phares, who worked at Goodyear Aircraft in Akron as a riveter on B-29 bombers. Because of her petite stature, she was assigned to wing tip riveting and safety wiring for tail lights-jobs staffed by the smallest people available. Leona met her husband at Goodyear, and before he enlisted he made her wedding ring out of scrap metal from work. I understand she is wearing the ring here this evening.

Likewise, Lois Turner's small hands enabled her to do the safety wiring in areas of planes that others couldn't reach. When she worked as a mechanic at Bell Aircraft in Niagra Falls, NY from 1943 to 1945, she often was held upside down for 15 minutes at a time to get to especially tight spots. You could say Lois stood on her head for her country!

Please join me in thanking these and all the other Rosies here tonight. These are the women who answered the call of their nation at war. These are the women who juggled jobs and families long before the term "working mother" came in vogue.

My generation and those who follow owe the Rosies here today our deepest gratitude for teaching us that, yes, "We can do it!"

We honor their work and pioneering spirit through the Rosie the Riveter World War Two Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California. Richmond is the perfect place for this park because the city was home to 56 different defense-related industries. Its shipyards alone built 747 ships. These ships, which helped win the war, were built with woman-power.

Power like that of Mary "Peace" Head, who is here with us this evening. Mary began working as a welder on Liberty ships at the age of 18 at the Kaiser Shipyard #2 in Richmond. She worked from 1943-1945 while her husband was in the service, learning every kind of welding-related job. Mary earned the nickname "Peace" by praying with a multi-ethnic group of workers outside the shipyards each morning before work. Not only did they pray to win the war, but they prayed for harmony between the races in their workplace.

The Rosie the Riveter national park is made possible by legislation sponsored by the Members of Congress who are with us tonight. Superintendent Judy Hart is doing a great job of transforming the ideas of Congress into memorable national park. To the Senators and Representatives and to Superintendent Hart, thank you for preserving American history.

Those women who built ships, staffed Red Cross service centers, and riveted plane fuselages have great stories to tell and great memories to share. That is why Ford Motor Company and the National Park Foundation initiated the effort to collect the stores and artifacts from Rosies all across the nation.

These stories and artifacts will become the heart of the exhibits planned for the park's future education center.

More than 8,000 contributions have been received from Rosies and their families. Donations include work uniforms used on assembly lines and cookbooks with quick, easy recipes using war rations. Perhaps the best contributions are the letters from Rosie the Riveters, like this one from Pauline of Everett Pennsylvania.

World War II was taking all of the young men from our little hometown (population 800) to serve in the military including, my brother Gunter, who was just a year younger than me. I felt it was my duty to do something for my country, so I joined the "Home Front Work Force" also.

Two weeks after graduation I started working at Douglas Air Craft in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as a riveter. I helped to rivet wings on the 347 air cargo planes, and kept that job until the war was over.

The slogan was "We Can Do It", and we did. "Rosie" was the nickname for all of us who riveted. My friends and family called me "Polly the Riveter." There were many sad days during the War. Eight young men from Hammon lost their lives, including my uncle and first cousin.
My brother returned home safe and is still living today. I remember the day the war was over. That night the streets in Oklahoma City were crowded with people. Some were crying, some were praying and some shouting, others singing, and dancing. It was a very happy day. I was proud to serve my county as "Rosie the Riveter". Yours Truly' "Polly the Riveter"

As we celebrate the accomplishments of Rosie the Riveters, we must not forget to honor those who died while serving their country at home. The work of building ships, tanks and planes was often dangerous. More than 35,000 home front workers were killed during the war. Their sacrifices equal the sacrifices of soldiers killed in battle.

For my part, I want to conclude my remarks so all of us have more time to get acquainted with and say thank you to our Rosie the Riveters who are with us today. Thank you for being with us.