[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 156 (Thursday, December 2, 2010)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E2035-E2036] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] THE DEDICATION OF THE LONG BEACH ROSIE THE RIVETER PARK AND INTERPRETIVE CENTER ______ HON. LAURA RICHARDSON of california in the house of representatives Thursday, December 2, 2010 Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the dedication of the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center. The Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center is an historic accomplishment for the Rosie Riveters, for Long Beach, California and for our nation. Since over 175,000 women served at the Long Beach Douglas Aircraft Company, it is very appropriate that the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center be the second site in the United States dedicated to honoring the contributions of the women, symbolized by the cultural icon ``Rosie the Riveter,'' who served on the home front during World War II. The first Rosie the Riveter Park, located in Richmond, California, focuses on women who worked in the Kaiser shipyards. The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center, however, focuses specifically on the women who assembled military aircraft at the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach. The Long Beach site includes informational displays on the Women Airforce Service Pilots, WASP. These women transported the airplanes assembled by the women at the Douglas Aircraft Company and other aircraft plants in Southern California. During World War II over 6 million brave women courageously entered a new workforce and served admirably the United States Armed Forces by manufacturing and delivering many parts, planes, and ammunition that enabled our victory. ``Rosie the Riveter'' is an historic American cultural icon that represents these women who were able to produce 300,000 airplanes, 102,000 armored vehicles, 77,000 ships, 20 million small arms, 4o billion bullets and 6 million tons of bombs. The Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center features 3-acres of historic, interpretive displays surrounded by a rose-colored [[Page E2036]] walking path that circles the park and includes an etched timeline that chronicles the history of Long Beach, Douglas Aircraft Company, and the women who worked at the plant. Attached to 1940's era light poles are interpretive signs bring up a number of themes, including: the Arsenal of Democracy, Long Beach in 1941, Rosie the Riveter Comes to Long Beach, Airplanes and the War, and Women in the Workplace. All the signs feature photographs obtained from the Library of Congress and the Boeing Company. Students are encouraged to test their knowledge of World War II history at additional signs with ``Did you know?''information displays. Military service flags also hang from each light pole. Along the walking path are several stopping points with etched stars and colorful tiles that are replicas of the recruitment posters used to encourage women to enter the workforce during the war. A recorded narrated tour of the park that gives visitors additional information and takes them back to the 194os with music and radio broadcasts is available for free by cellphone and can be downloaded by podcast. Visitors can listen while walking or sitting at several of the benches placed throughout the park. The park also features a replica of a ``compass rose'' that once decorated the lobby of the Roosevelt Naval Base in Long Beach. The compass rose has historically been used by pilots and navigators to locate their position and is symbolic of the way in which World War II took our Nation and its people all over the world in the defense of freedom. Adjacent to the compass rose is a quiet garden and memorial to the women and men who served in the military, noting in the inscription: ``All Gave Some--Some Gave All.'' Carved emblems for each branch of the military, as well as the Women Airforce Service Pilots, are embedded into the memorial. Three flags fly over the memorial: a U.S. flag flown over the Capitol, a California flag, and a City of Long Beach flag. At the south side of the park is a ``flight path'' lit with solar powered flashing lights that follows several planes etched in the pavers--planes that were assembled at the Douglas Aircraft plant. The 99s--an organization of women pilots formed by Amelia Earhart and Long Beach's first female licensed pilot, Gladys O'Donnell--will paint an air marking at the terminus of flight path just as they did before and after World War II. In the Spring of 2011, the Long Beach park will add a replica of the original relief designed by Raymond Kaskey, which depicts women assembling airplanes and is included in the National World War II Memorial here in Washington, DC. This wonderful addition to the Long Beach site is being partially funded by a generous contribution from the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation maintains a Web site, www.lbrosie.com which includes links for teacher resources in order to utilize the park as a teaching opportunity for Long Beach and United States history. I call upon my colleagues to take this opportunity to study, reflect upon, and celebrate the stories and accomplishments of the women who served the nation as ``Rosies'' during World War H and to acknowledge all those for their efforts to honor the contributions of these heroic women. ____________________