We Can Do It!
Mae Krier (left) and a "We Can Do It!" American World War II wartime poster (right) originally produced as an inspirational image to boost worker morale.
I recently had the pleasure of photographing Mae Krier, one of the original WWII era “Rosie the Riveters”, at her home in Levittown, PA. During the war she worked at a Boeing Plant in Washington state. Mae is an impressive 99yr old. Upon meeting her I immediately thought of the old saying “there ain’t no flies on you”, meaning a person is very sharp, alert, clever, and energetic. Conversation was easy… I had a great time learning about her role in history as a trailblazer for women in the workforce.
Mae was instrumental in getting all of the Rosies recognized. She began her campaign fifty years ago, writing letters, giving talks, and, more recently, sewing more than 7,000 polka dot masks for use during the Covid-19 pandemic. I was amazed by a lot of her Rosie swag - including a Congressional Gold Medal and memorabilia that went into outerspace and back!
A note that Mae includes with ribbons she sends out caught my eye. It reads:
This red & white polka dot scarf represents the power that women are capable of. Wear it with pride. When not wearing it, hang it in your room. If and when you reach an insurmountable time in your life, just remember “we did it”. You can do it.
Learn more about Mae’s life story and her work as a Rosie at AdvancedManufacturing.org - it’s a great interview!
