Broadway Mesa Village was excited to celebrate an important milestone: resident Elsie W.’s 100th birthday. The event took place on Tuesday, November 12, at 5:30 p.m. in the dining room at Broadway Mesa Village.
Local performing arts group, The Kids Next Door, provided entertainment as attendees gathered to celebrate Elsie, a former “Rosie the Riveter” who contributed to the World War II home front effort. Broadway Mesa Village also encouraged guests to bring birthday cards for Elsie, with a goal of collecting 300 cards to commemorate her life.
Elsie trained at Douglas Aircraft in Chicago, part of what is now O’Hare International Airport, and worked for two and a half years as a riveter on C54 cargo planes. During the war, women on the production line were required to wear pants and keep their hair covered—a routine that Elsie says made wearing dresses feel strange ever since. Standing at just the right height, Elsie was able to fit inside the wings of the planes while her riveting partner worked outside. “If I didn’t hit the rivet hard enough, they would signal with a knock, and I’d try again,” Elsie recalls. After mastering the skill, she rarely missed.
Elsie recalls the day the war ended—she and her coworkers put down their riveting tools and joined the celebrations in the streets. She was later recognized publicly during a screening of a World War II film, where an audience member thanked her, saying he had flown on one of the planes she helped build.
“This celebration was an opportunity to recognize Elsie’s contributions and the impact of her generation,” said Brooke Rogers, Executive Director of Broadway Mesa Village. “We were so excited to welcome friends, neighbors, and community members to honor her.”
Learn more about the amazing residents and their inspiring stories at Broadway Mesa Village.