Ford Salutes Historic Employee Rosie the Riveter; Working Women of WWII United at National Park

* Ford Motor Company gathered select 'Rosies' and their direct descendants at Rosie the Riveter National Park as part of a ceremony to announce a nationwide effort to collect stories and memorabilia commemorating the World War II Home Front effort.

* Rosie the Riveter was a Ford Motor Company employee, helping begin a long legacy of pioneering women at Ford Motor Company.

RICHMOND, Calif., Nov. 11 -- "We Can Do It!" That was the caption on the famous World War II poster of "Rosie the Riveter." Ford Motor Company, together with the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service, today gathered select "Rosies" and their direct descendants as part of a ceremony at Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, Calif.

The ceremony announces a nationwide effort to collect stories, authentic artifacts and personal histories from living "Rosies" and the families of "Rosies" who joined the World War II Home Front effort. Material collected will be archived and used to create exhibits in the park's visitor center to commemorate this significant period in American history.

Rose Will Monroe was hired to work at Ford's Willow Run Aircraft Factory in 1942 and was chosen to appear in a promotional film encouraging women to join the country's workforce. As a result, "Rosie" became the nickname given to all women who entered the U.S. labor effort during World War II, and a stern-faced, muscle-flexing woman depicted in the poster became a symbol of all those who worked on domestic soil to keep American industry moving forward.

Since Oct. 20, Ford has been asking all "Rosies," Rosie direct descendants and others who helped win the war on the Home Front, to log onto www.ford.com/go/rosie and share their personal stories. Entries collected will be archived and displayed in exhibits in the park for future generations to understand and appreciate the stories of the people who came together on the Home Front to help ensure victory overseas during W.W.II.

Among the descendants who took part in today's celebration was the daughter of Rose Will Monroe. "My mother was a very special lady, and her attitude and willingness to take risks inspired other women to achieve," said Vickie Croston, Monroe's daughter. "I am so proud of her legacy because she remains an American icon for the strength found in every woman and her direct impact on history in this country makes such a profound and lasting impression."

Ford Motor Company was the first industrial corporation to hire women at its factories, beginning a long legacy of women pioneers at Ford Motor Company. Henry Ford cultivated a diverse environment that also included African-Americans, the disabled, ex-convicts and others -- he believed that people only need opportunity to flourish and lead useful lives.

"There's no point women couldn't get to, if they wanted to, in this organization," Ford said in a 1923 interview of women who worked in the company's drafting department.

"Strong women like Rosie the Riveter are certainly no strangers to Ford Motor Company," said Jan Valentic, vice president, Global Marketing, Ford Motor Company. "We owe so much to the pioneering women who first braved the factory floor at Ford Motor Company, and to Rosie the Riveter, who has come to inspire female strength for her fellow World War II female workers and to women today. Veterans' Day is the perfect time to celebrate this legacy."

The history of Rosie the Riveter begins when Rose Will Monroe became the nation's poster girl for women joining the labor force during World War II. The term "Rosie," taken from Monroe's first name, came to symbolize all women who continued to fill factory jobs in the '40s, maintaining the country's labor force as thousands of men fought overseas.

Monroe worked on the line building B-29 and B24 military planes. While on duty, she caught the eye of Hollywood producers who were casting a "riveter" for a promotional film. Her exposure in the film resulted in the popular, "We Can Do It!" poster by J. Howard Miller. After World War II, Monroe realized her dreams by becoming an accomplished business owner and pilot.

As a Proud Partner of America's National Parks, Ford Motor Company works closely with the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service to preserve history and the environment. Ford supports the National Parks with the development of innovative transportation and environmental solutions, including the restoration of 33 historic red buses and the donation of electric vehicles, enabling visitors to enjoy more than 380 National Parks around the country.

Ford also has developed a program that places transportation scholars and interpreters into National Parks to provide visitors with important information about alternative transportation systems. Since 2001, Ford has placed 96 interpreters and 17 scholars in parks. The research and interpretive programs help research and promote the use of environmentally friendly transportation systems in parks.