First Southeast Michigan "Rosie the Riveter" Rose Garden Planted in Belleville!

On Thursday, June 28, 2018 the Willow Run Chapter of the American Rosie the Riveter Association (ARRA) with sponsorship from Van Buren Township, Sumpter Township, and the City of Belleville, a “Rosie the Riveter Memorial Rose Garden — the very first in our area — at the Belleville Area Museum!

The Rosie the Riveter Rose Gardens are an initiative of the Spirit of ‘45 organization, and many have been planted around the country. This garden is the first in southeast Michigan, and area renowned as the Arsenal of Democracy and home of the famous Willow Run Bomber Plant, and we are very proud of this accomplishment.

Four rose bushes of the Rosie the Riveter Floribunda variety, a special rose developed and introduced just this year, were planted and dedicated at the Museum in a lovely outdoor ceremony attended by 10 Original World War II Rosie the Riveters as well as dignitaries from the sponsoring municipalities.

Special guest Angie Timan-Morthland, ARRA’s Indiana State Director and roving Midwest Ambassador, orchestrated a small army of helpful student volunteers in planting the rose bushes, then kicked off the touching dedication ceremony by speaking to the gathered crowd about the historical significance of Rosie the Riveter. Belleville Area Museum Director Katie Dallos welcomed the WWII Rosies and thanked the sponsoring municipalities. Then Donnaleen Lanktree, ARRA’s National President, read a moving poem entitled, “They Were Rosies.” Finally, supporter Jeannette Gutierrez spoke about the Willow Run Bomber Plant, the critical role it played in winning WWII.

And with that, the new Rosie the Riveter Memorial Rose Garden was revealed to the cheers of spectators, and the WWII Rosies posed for photos with the rosebushes and with the crowd.

Afterwards, many of the Rosies and their friends convened for lunch at the Belleville Cracker Barrel restaurant