Packard Proving Grounds offers opportunity to honor Rosie the Riveters

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site will be hosting a Rosie the Riveter Memorial Garden luncheon Sept. 22 and honoring Rosie the Riveters who contributed so much to America’s war efforts during World War II.

The Packard Proving Grounds is honoring eight Rosies who made a memorable impact. The eight include Jane Lusik, Bernice Palmer, Martha Oren, Helen Riley, June Tolan, Virginia Levy, Edna Leadford and Helen Endykewicz.

The proving grounds will be unveiling its Rosie the Riveter Memorial Garden that was recently planted to honor the memory of Packard Motor Car Co. “Rosies” who contributed to the war effort.

The program, titled “Heroes of the Home-front” will be presented by Debra Wake, who is currently the education and volunteer coordinator at the Holland Museum in Holland, Michigan.

Wake is a member of the American Rosie of the Riveter Association. She worked for 25 years at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn and retired in 2020 as manager of youth, family and camp programs. She is also the former vice president of the Southeast Michigan “WOW” chapter of the American Rosie the Riveter Association and a former Tribute Rosie at the Yankee Air Museum, which is now the Michigan Flight Museum.

“As a member of the American Rosie the Riveter Association it is my honor to share the story of Rosie the Riveter. Through presentations, parades and appearances (at) public events. We promote the story of Rosie’s commitment to helping to win World War II and keeping the homefront running. We also do oral interviews to capture their personal stories and experiences. These women had moxie and determination, and this country could not have won the war without them,” she said.

She said that in her presentation, she shares not only the story of who Rosie the Riveter was, as promoted through music, posters, and newspaper and magazine articles, but also how the government created the largest advertising campaign to date to convince women to leave their homes and work in factories and other jobs to support the war effort,” she said.

Wake said the women in the Detroit area, which was known as the Arsenal of Democracy, came out by the millions and discovered that they could do it.

“My presentation will end with what happened to these women when the war was over and what the legacy of Rosie the Riveter means to all of us. I was also honored to be invited to attend the April 10 ceremony at the Capitol in D.C. where Rosie the Riveter received the Congressional (Gold Medal). There were 27 original Rosies, age range from 95 to 106, present to accept and finally be recognized for their contributions,” she said.

Wake continues to conduct oral histories, research and share the legacy of Rosie the Riveter.

Kim Parr, the curator at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site, said she is astonished at what these women did that impacted the war so much.

“The things that these women accomplished were amazing and most likely had more of a profound effect on ending the war than what is realized. It’s inspirational, a story the younger generations should know about, and one that contemporaries can be proud of. A rosebush in our new Rosie garden, with a marker, will be dedicated for each of the Rosies we are honoring,” she said.

The Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site is located at 49965 Van Dyke Ave. Tickets to the event will cost $40. The luncheon will include chicken Marsala, penne pasta with palomino sauce, Santa Anna potatoes, green beans almondine, salad, rolls and dessert.

For more information and tickets, visit packardprovinggrounds.org/event/rosie-the-riveter-garden-memorial-luncheon.