Want to commemorate Rosie the Riveter? You can at this new little art exhibit in Plymouth
David VeselenakFlo McCarty is a real-life testament to helping the United States win World War II.
The Livonia resident spent several months working in the Willow Run Bomber Plant, helping to construct B-24s to assist in the war effort. She later joined the Navy, further cementing her legacy.
She's gone around to several events celebrating Rosie the Riveter, so much so that she's becoming more comfortable with her status as a Rosie.
"Even after all my years, I still remember a lot," she said. "I'm getting used to this."
That history was remembered recently in downtown Plymouth as McCarty was a guest of honor at a brief opening of a free little art gallery that opened in the tiny street side gallery at 865 Penniman.
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The tiny display, full of original artwork celebrating the women that worked in the plants back in the early 1940s, is available to anyone passing by. Guests are able to open the display — which looks similar to "little free library" boxes that have popped up all over — and take a piece of artwork at no charge.
"One of our members ... was walking by the gallery and thought, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a Rosie exhibit in there?'" said Jeannette Gutierrez, president of the American Rosie the Riveter Association Michigan Willow Run Chapter. "She got ahold of the gallery curators and made it happen."
In a small dedication ceremony that saw people come out wearing the iconic red headband made famous by the Rosie the Riveter poster, the exhibit opened. It remains open for visitors to select an object until it runs out.
Contact reporter David Veselenak at dveselenak@hometownlife.com or 734-678-6728. Follow him on Twitter @davidveselenak.