The story behind the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal
On April 10, 2024 in Washington D.C., the Rosie the Riveters of WWII were awarded, collectively and symbolically, a Congressional Gold Medal. This honor represents many years of work on the part of American Rosie the Riveter Association (ARRA) members Mae Krier and the late Phyllis Gould, a couple of real WWII Rosies who proved that, “We Can Do It!” Two dozen living Rosie the Riveters, members of ARRA and all around 100 years old, attended the ceremony at the United States Capitol, by invitation from the Speaker of the House.
American Rosie the Riveter Association (ARRA) members Mae and Phyllis led a years-long campaign for the Congressional Gold Medal honor for the Rosies. In addition, during that period, ARRA member Mae Krier also secured Congressional recognition of March 21 as National Rosie the Riveter Day.
Our friends at the Rosie the Riveter Trust in Richmond, CA coordinated with the Office of the Speaker of the House to bring 27 Rosies, including ARRA Rosies & members, from across the nation to participate in the ceremony.
Many thanks to the generous sponsors who made the ceremony possible, including Premier Sponsor the Gary Sinise Foundation, and sponsors The Boeing Company, The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 549 and Local 92, Kaiser Permanente, Northrop Grumman, United & CSX, as well as all the individual donors who helped make this once in a lifetime trip for the Rosies possible.
