This is an attempt to pay tribute to all the women
that helped manufacture the C-47 in any of the assembly plants...
Without their valiant efforts ......Thelives of men
with life threatening wounds and mangled bodies
would not have made it to rear hospital's,
They owe their lives to the C-47 being there ...
and we would have no "Gooney Bird" to pay tribute to...
and who knows maybe not even the freedom to pay tribute
General Eisenhower
has been quoted as saying the the C-47
was one of the principal elements in the overall victory
We know Time and history has treated you bad.
We know you were asked to stand in the gap, made by men going to War.
We know our country called and pleaded for you to forgo your traditional Roll.
We know you stepped forward, rolled up your sleeves and wore the fashion of war.
We know you learned, and began to perform tasks, that you in past had never seen.
We know you were asked to work long hours, in more noise then the ears could stand.
We know you were expected, to think of work, with loved one's fighting a foreign war.
We know you had to tend your children with one hand, and a rivet gun in the other.
We know when your mate was lost or missing you were asked to carry on the Work.
We know no matter the pain, you had to wait for quitting time, to hear yourself cry.
We know you and your fellow "Rosie's" surpassed all records of aircraft production.
We know when war ended, you were ruthlessly told to go home, and have babies
We know you were cast out, no matter needs or losses, to make room for returning men
We know no one knew your sacrifice, although your window had a black flag with star.
We know you were treated shamelessly by the company, our country, and even history.
We know your "Gooney Bird" saved many lives, and spread honor to your creation.
We know you can stand tall and say with great pride, I built the "Grand Old Lady".
We thank you for your sacrifice, efforts and the tools for our country to overcome.
We would like to honor you. But time has moved you on to many other deeds.
We ask "Where is Rosie the Riviter" builder of the C-47, The gentle Legend of War.
Ed Hake August 30,2000
We have an added Treat...One of our own
Margie Smith-Kye
NoMoFlights@aol.com
Margie was Was a flight attendant for 30 years
and flew one of Piedmont Airlines
last DC-3 operations.
At the time,
"I didn't know how blessed I was!
Once you fall in love with a "3"
you never get over it, do you??"
She has sent a fantastic reply as "Rosie" might reply.
"I'm Still Here"
Wow, it's been quite a while since I last heard that name.
"Rosie". It really takes me back down Memory Lane.
Those were the hardest days I've ever had to face.
So much to learn, so much to do, in an unfamiliar place.
I missed you so bad I thought my heart would break,
But I knew we had to do this, for the difference we would make.
I learned to use that heavy gun and drive those rivets true
'Cause I knew the one who flew on her could easily be you!
"God, please bless this Gooney Bird," over each I prayed;
"Take care of them, keep them safe, and bring them home again."
V-E Day, V-J Day, at last the end of the strife.
Thanks to God Almighty, we can get on with the rest of our life.
Not wanted any longer, I guess my job is done;
A GI who's come home from war now has my rivet gun.
I'll admit I was confused at first, and a little out of sorts;
'Cause no one seemed to know or care about how we'd held the fort!
But soon I came to realize it wasn't just you or me;
It was all of us together that won this victory.
So I went back in the kitchen, took care of kids and home;
Never said much about that time you were gone and I was alone.
But sometimes while I'm doing dishes or some other mundane chore,
I remember service rendered while you were off at war.
You asked what I was smiling at and I answered with a shrug;
No need to bring it up 'cause you're here to give me a hug!
So without headlines and hardly any thanks
We built thousands of airplanes and thousands of tanks.
We did what we did because it had to be done.
We did what we had to do to support you at the front.
You may not realize it and be completely unaware,
But if the need arose again, Rosie would answer, "I'm still here."
Not me this time, too much time has passed, too much silver in my hair;
But I have no qualms or doubts about Rosie's replacement and heir.
I've done my best to teach her and prepare her to take on the world.
For the next "Rosie", my dear, is our own little girl!
Margie Kye
30 August 2000
Our heartfelt thanks to Margie for her outstanding Poem...Well Done..."Bear"
