LB Rosie the Riveter Foundation Receives Grant From Long Beach
Navy Memorial Heritage Association –
$46,000 to be used for “interpretive panels” and “compass rose”
The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation has been selected as a 2009-2010 grant recipient by the Long Beach Navy Memorial Heritage Association and to receive a $46,000 grant to complete the Rosie the Riveter Interpretive Panels and Compass Rose project.
The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization established to preserve the history of Long Beach during World War II during which thousands of women worked at local plants and factories, helping to build the planes and ships that were needed. The Foundation has been raising funds to provide historical interpretive signs and artwork in the Rosie the Riveter Park located at Clark Avenue and Conant Street in eastside Long Beach.
“We are honored to have been selected for this grant,” says Gerrie Schipske, President of the LB Rosie the Riveter Foundation. “These funds will enable us to complete the first phase of historical signs and artwork which will be donated to the City of Long Beach for use in the Rosie the Riveter Park.”
Schipske explains that the interpretive signs will visually depict the history of Long Beach’s involvement in World War, the women who were called “Rosie the Riveter” and the military aircraft they produced – such as the B-17 bomber – which is credited for winning the air war.
The Rosie the Riveter Park is also including a “compass rose” which is a replica of the ones used on the air fields so that pilots could calibrate their compasses.
“The ‘compass rose’ that will be painted in the park will be exactly the same as the one which was in the Administration Building lobby of the US Naval Station in Long Beach,” adds Schipske.
When completed, the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Park will feature a walking path with interpretive signs, a guide by cell tour, a memorial to those men and women who served in the military during WWII, and displays showing the contributions of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and the American Gold Star Mothers. Trees, a rose garden, memorial benches and historic lighting will be located throughout the park.
“Long Beach will become part of the national effort to preserve this period of history and one of only two parks in the United States dedicated to the women who worked so hard on the home front.”
