Latest news with #RosieTheRiveter
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
100-year-old "Rosie the Riveter" headlining Ypsilanti's Fourth of July parade
The Fourth of July parade in Ypsilanti, Michigan, almost came to an end this year after organizational changes put its future in question. The community came together on short notice to keep this tradition going, and this year, they'll be recognizing some of those from Ypsilanti who fought for our freedom. Ypsilanti's Independence Day Parade makes it to its 95th year, and it's putting those who've served and their connections to the city front and center. One of them is Lieutenant Colonel Charles Kettles, a Vietnam War helicopter pilot who risked his life to save countless others, earning himself the Congressional Medal of Honor. The Ypsilanti native died in 2019, but his presence will still be felt during this year's parade as the UH-1, or Huey, helicopter, which he flew in Vietnam, will perform a flyover to start off the event. "That's what this is all about is to let some people remember those days and how their life might have been changed or what they've done now. So, it's kind of exciting," said UH-1 pilot Jim Wise. The parade's honorary Marshal is 100-year-old Delphine Klaput, an original Rosie the Riveter. "Those women who worked in those factories were great. They had hard jobs, really hard jobs. They worked on big machines. They cut steel," Klaput said. Just like Kettles and his Huey helicopter, Klaput and the Rosies hold a special significance to the Ypsilanti area. "Over 42,000 people worked at Willow Run during the war, and two-thirds of them were women. Michigan Rosies and the Ypsilanti Fourth of July Parade is inviting members of the community, and anyone who wants to, to dress up as Rosie and walk in the parade with us," said Michigan Rosies executive director Jeannette Gutierrez. Those interested in participating can sign up online. Klaput will represent the theme for the parade, World War Two and the Greatest Generation.
CBS News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Signs at Bay Area national parks ask visitors to report any "negative" history
At National Park sites across the country, small signs are popping up at the entrances asking the public to keep an eye out for any negative references to American history. It's part of an executive order from President Trump issued on March 27, called the Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. At the Rosie the Riveter visitor center, people learn about the contributions of the Homefront during WWII, and about the way women and minorities were being treated at the time. A sign at the center now directs visitors to notify the National Park Service of any "signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features." "It seems like a clear attempt to whitewash history," said Dennis Arguelles with the National Parks Conservation Association. "To erase narratives from the past that they feel don't fit the narratives that they want to see portrayed, and probably most dangerously, omit aspects of our history that are really important for us to understand and learn from." The NPCA is a nonprofit that advocates for the National Parks. Arguelles said he believes the signs invite people to seek out things about history they would like to erase. "We're seeing this as an attempt to circumnavigate the authority of the Parks Service to tell these stories, to tell accurate history, and to make sure that we learn, particularly from the mistakes of the past," he said. But it is the National Park Service that is placing the signs at their sites. "Well, in our view the Parks Service has no choice," said Arguelles. "These directives are coming down from the administration, from the Department of Interior, from the Secretary. And in many cases, they don't have a choice but to go along with this." The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, the site commemorating a massive explosion during WWII that killed 320 Black sailors and the 256 who were court martialed for refusing to return to work, is also under the Department of the Interior. "We will not allow our history to be erased, regardless of orders, policies, or political tides … These histories are not separate or optional — They are central to understanding who we are as a nation," the Port Chicago Alliance told CBS News Bay Area in a statement. Another sign is located at the Manzanar National Historic Site where Japanese Americans were interned during WWII. The imprisonment of innocent Americans is the entire purpose of the monument, so is it really possible to have a site like Manzanar and not have some negative history assigned to it? "I don't think so. I don't think it's possible," said Cal State East Bay Ethnic Studies Professor Dr. Nicholas Baham. "But at the same time, the understanding of the things that we've done is not, in and of itself, a negative process. It is not a process that is designed to make people feel bad about being American. It's a process that's designed to make us better as Americans." Baham said he is also disturbed by the fact that the Parks Service can no longer even see the comments that the people are submitting. "I don't know what kind of system that sets up," he said. "Other than one that creates a sense of distrust between visitors to the park, American citizens, and people who work at the park." The president's directive also criticizes the removal of various statues and monuments during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. And he directed that the National Park Service reinstate them wherever possible. In his order, President Trump wrote, "This revisionist movement seeks to undermine the remarkable achievements of the United States by casting its founding principles and historical milestones in a negative light." But Dr. Baham said it is precisely the founding principles of the nation, and its struggle to uphold them, that has always provided America with its moral compass. "What happens to this country if we erase the history of enslavement at any of our National Park sites? At the plantations that Jefferson or Washington owned? Listen, really this is quite insulting to the American people. It assumes that you can't critically evaluate both the good and the bad." CBS News Bay Area reached out to the National Park Service about the signs, but has not heard back.
CBS News
25-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
World War II exhibit in Metro Detroit spotlights women who served
SUV crashes into building in Redford; holiday travel peak times; and more top stories SUV crashes into building in Redford; holiday travel peak times; and more top stories SUV crashes into building in Redford; holiday travel peak times; and more top stories Memorial Day is for honoring and remembering the men and women who died serving in the military. Women are sometimes overlooked. At a new exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, they're getting the recognition that they deserve. Sitting outside the new exhibit and taking pictures on Sunday with guests was World War II Veteran George Leland. "I'm over 100 years old. I still have my hair!" Leland said. One of the original "Rosie the Riveters," Virginia Rusch, was also there. "The name of it was Republic, aircraft division, and what I did, I soldered combs," Rusch said. Virginia was just 15 years old when she took the job. "I lied. I told them I was 17. I wanted to help, which I think I did," Rusch said. They're here to see "Our War Too," which celebrates the nearly 350,000 women who served during World War II. CBS News Detroit "World War II was happening during a time when women were expected to be at home, they were expected to stay in the kitchen, help their kids, all very important things," Lori Petrelius, museum programs Manager for the Henry Ford Museum, said. "But it took World War II for us to realize that women need to be in the workforce." It features more than 200 artifacts. "It's lovely, terrific amount of work that's going into this that brought back a lot of memories, seeing a lot of these things here," Leland said. An interactive display at the exhibit allows you to hear from actual service women. "They just sacrificed everything to be in the military, the ladies that were in there, and they all worked very hard, and they all had certain jobs to do, and they did them accurately. Especially the nurses," Leland said. This exhibit is proof of their legacy. "I'm so happy for all the all the ladies. Proud of them. Just proud of them," Rusch said. And history we should never forget. The exhibit will be on display through Sept. 7.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Ypsilanti's Fourth of July parade is a go once again, following former chair's departure
Ypsilanti claims to put on the longest-running Fourth of July parade in Michigan. While the former chair posted on Facebook that she would be stepping down and that the parade was cancelled, the new organizers confirmed that it isn't going anywhere. The American Legion Post No. 282 and other volunteers say they're keeping the tradition going in Ypsilanti, but they're racing the clock to get to the finish line. "We need to correct the record here because she may step down, but that doesn't mean the parade needs to die. Certainly, the Post doesn't want it to die and they're the sponsors," former Ypsilanti mayor Cheryl Farmer said. Farmer is rallying the community like she once did as mayor to piece together this year's Fourth of July parade any way they can. "Yes we're on a short timeline, but we can do this. This is the home of Rosie the Riveter, right? We can do this," she said. World War II is the overarching theme for the parade, and the grand marshal will be none other than the area's own Rosie the Riveter: Delphine Klaput, who turned 100 years old last year. Farmer says it's no guarantee that they'll be able to recruit a large field for this year's parade with so little time, but they're turning this challenge into an advantage for the parade's future. "Some of the units that we might find, that we might be able to locate, might already be committed, in which case we're going to commit them to our parade next year," she said. A meeting is taking place to discuss the parade plans at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. It will be held at the American Legion Post No. 282, located at 100 Ecorse Road in Ypsilanti.
CBS News
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Stockton artist wins Anh Phoong billboard contest
STOCKTON -- Asia Lamela has been creating art since childhood. Growing up in the Bay Area and moving to Stockton a few years back, she knows that iconic saying many locals know: "Something Wrong? Call Anh Phoong." "How could you not know Anh Phoong?" Lamela asked. "Her face is everywhere. Her name. We all know who Anh Phoong is." When friends started sending Phoong's billboard art contest to Lamela on social media, she went for it. "I thought about it for like, maybe a month or so, just thinking about what could work and then maybe a week before, I started executing and using my Photoshop and painting a little bit too," Lamela said. She submitted her work, and not too long after, she got the call from Phoong herself, saying she won. Lamela says she was inspired by the iconic Rosie the Riveter posters she learned about in school. "I just think it's a very strong symbol of womanhood, and it's also turning into a symbol of Asian-ness through the Anh Phoong likeness," Lamela explained. She says this is one of her best accomplishments so far in her career as an artist. But for her, the meaning behind it is much bigger than any billboard. "Growing up, there wasn't too many people that kind of looked like me, you know, Asian Americans," Lamela said. "We're not really seeing too much in the media, and I think it's important for Asian Americans to use their voice creatively, so that we can have some representation and kind of claim some land, you know? So this was really important to me, and it was awesome that I could work with someone like Anh Phoong." On top of the recognition, she also took home a $5,000 prize.
