Help America to seize this brief moment

Do your part to help America to know, honor and work with Rosie the Riveters

Listen to a Rosie (click here)

We pulled together then; we can pull together again. It’s our only hope.

Nancy Sipple, Rosie the Riveter

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can CHANGE THE WORLD. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

Intern with us

Would you like to intern with Thanks! Plain and Simple? Download a pdf of our intern guidelines.

Lecture Series

We are pleased to announce that Anne Montague is available for lectures on Rosie the Riveters and their impact on America past, present and future.

To schedule a speaking engagement, please call 304 / 776-4743. Depending on the details (location, date and time) of your request, it may be possible for "Thanks!" to include a living Rosie the Riveter in the event.

Mission

To create projects in West Virginia that need to be done in America and more widely, and to do these projects so well that many people will be inspired to replicate, adapt and add to the work. These model projects will allow people to unify in their communities, in America and in the world. When possible, we also guide veterans to contribute to these projects. Our underlying belief is that people will do more good when they see how to start participating in something they believe is worthwhile.

The West Virginia Rosie the Riveter Project is a model for Americans who want to honor and educate with women who worked “on the home front” during World War II. Rosies are about 90 years old today, and there is very little time to learn from them, so we have created many ways for communities to easily work with Rosies.

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Washington Post Reporter interviewing Rosies at the World War II Memorial.

by Tyler
I am an average teen. Pretty neat to know it was a big deal that my grandmother was a Rosie the Riveter. I didn’t know how important it was until an article came out in the paper about my grandmother. My grandmother, Dorothy Partain, seems so happy and honored. She’s also happy that she worked hard and did a really good job. When the article about my grandmother first came out, Ms. Hall my history teacher, put it up next to the Rosie poster [with the slogan], “We Can Do It” in our classroom. I spent 30 minutes figuring it out. Ms. Hall thought I was goofing around. I already knew people at home helped in the war. I didn’t know how big a deal it was. Now I see that all the people who are part of it and it’s not just about soldiers. World War II probably would have not have been won without women who are grandmothers now, even great grandmothers. Men didn’t think they could do it, but the women did just as good as the men.

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Photo by Loretta Simons
A room was named for Rosie the Riveters on October 7, 2013, at the HI-Harpers Ferry Hostel in Knoxville, MD. From left to right are Crena Anderson who riveted planes in MD, Paula Abelow who was a drafter for an optics company in New York City, Dorothy Davenport who worked on a dairy farm that produced food for our troops in IL, and Ruth Staples who worked on the B&O; Railroad in MD.

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Bluebirds in Brunswick moving fast.
Brunswick, MD to be the first Bluebirds for Rosies Community in America.
The town of Brunswick, MD will honor Rosie the Riveters by being the first Bluebirds for Rosies Community in America. The bluebird symbolized hope during World War II, so "Thanks!" and Rosies started hanging bluebird houses the first Monday of April, which was occupied by a bluebird pair the following Thursday.

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Photo of bluebird pair courtesy of Doug Jolley, WV Dept. of Agriculture.
Keep following our work with Brunswick. The houses are made in America.

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The West; Virginia; Rosie the Riveter Project: A Example for America

Over three years, we have proven that educating about Rosie the Riveters has a far more dramatic impact on youth, adults, Rosies, and communities when Rosies are included to: a) educate about themselves, b) help communities create replicable projects to teach about Rosies (e.g create parks, DVD/CD of interviews), and c) preserve their histories.

We have created more than 20 ways for Rosies and others to educate, including original music, a documentary film, quilts by Rosies, historic visits by Allied Nations, and parks that tell the Rosie story.

In March, 2012, The Today Show taped 50 Rosies in Charleston, WV.

Our work helps America seize this brief moment in America to work with our Rosies for lasting, meaningful education. Let us know if you want to learn from us or help.

Future Goals of Our Rosie Model:

Long-term, we hope to advance that women will play new, positive roles in our changing world.