Wednesday, December 21, 2022 4:39:38 PM
WWII American Rosie the Riveter Association hosts a birthday celebration
Chandra Fleming
Detroit Free Press
Updated 7:49 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2022
Rosie the Riveters were known for being hardcore kick-butt tough stuff.
While the men typically fought in World War ll, Rosies were working hard in the factories creating parts for the battlefield.
It's that tough stuff that got Clara Doutly to age 101, and, on Thursday, fellow Rosies helped her celebrate that milestone
The Bomber Restaurant on East Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti aka the hub for everything Rosie, hosted the event Thursday afternoon. Model airplanes sat high on the ceilings and hung from ceiling. War attire, maps and pictures sat on the walls, reminiscent of a vintage diner brimming with stories waiting to be told.
"I just want to thank God for letting me see another day," said Doutly.
It was the perfect location for Doutly's birthday celebration. The table was decorated with a red polka dot tablecloth, and red and white flowers sat on top. Guests wore polka dot-inspired fabrics and brought cards and gifts for the birthday lady.
Many spoke highly of Doutly and were just proud to be there celebrating her life.
Johanna McCoy, the owner of Bomber Restaurant, which is only 11 minutes away from Willow Run Airport,said that the Rosies love coming to the restaurant and she adores being able to host them.
"We call ourselves the modern-day Rosies," said McCoy. "With these guys, and how wonderful they are with my girls, we all just feel like family. We get invited to any of their functions, that they have off-property, and then we invite them to come here as often as they can."
The relationship between the Rosies and the restaurant began a couple of years ago.
"We started a Rosie Riveter day on Palm Sunday, probably four years before COVID started," said McCoy. "Then we would celebrate it every year and we get the Rosies to come in and they just love to be together."
McCoy, who has been the owner for 30 years, said that she enjoys treating the Rosies to a meal on the house when they come by.
"I just want to emphasize how important it is for us to celebrate these people while they're still here," she said. "We can learn so much from them and they've got their wits about them. They know and can tell us so much and I don't think we capitalize on it as much as we should. I'm just happy to have them here."
Friends turned into family
Doutly was all smiles for the celebration. She wore blue jeans, a blue sweater, and a red polka dot hat paired with a tier with "101" on it. Her long-term friend, caregiver Katie Moylan, said that Doutly is like a grandmother to her since she has no family and Doutly has no children.
The two met in 2014 through St. Patrick Senior Center in Detroit where Doutly is from and currently lives. Moylan often volunteered there and met Doutly. Moylan received an email through Ford Motor Co. about a competition regarding folks dressing up as Rosie the Riveter to break a Guinness World Record.
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"I printed off the email, took it down the following Saturday, went to Clara, and said, "Did you tell me you're a Rosie?' She said, 'I am,' so I said, 'Well, you don't really know me, but you want to do this?
"From there, we got our costumes together, and God put us together," said Moylan. "We've been together ever since, she has no children, and I have no parents. She still lives on her own, I care for her, I make sure bills are paid or laundry is done."
. . .
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/10/20/wwii-american-rosie-clara-doutly-celebrates-101st-birthday/69574913007/
Chandra Fleming
Detroit Free Press
Updated 7:49 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2022
Rosie the Riveters were known for being hardcore kick-butt tough stuff.
While the men typically fought in World War ll, Rosies were working hard in the factories creating parts for the battlefield.
It's that tough stuff that got Clara Doutly to age 101, and, on Thursday, fellow Rosies helped her celebrate that milestone
The Bomber Restaurant on East Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti aka the hub for everything Rosie, hosted the event Thursday afternoon. Model airplanes sat high on the ceilings and hung from ceiling. War attire, maps and pictures sat on the walls, reminiscent of a vintage diner brimming with stories waiting to be told.
"I just want to thank God for letting me see another day," said Doutly.
It was the perfect location for Doutly's birthday celebration. The table was decorated with a red polka dot tablecloth, and red and white flowers sat on top. Guests wore polka dot-inspired fabrics and brought cards and gifts for the birthday lady.
Many spoke highly of Doutly and were just proud to be there celebrating her life.
Johanna McCoy, the owner of Bomber Restaurant, which is only 11 minutes away from Willow Run Airport,said that the Rosies love coming to the restaurant and she adores being able to host them.
"We call ourselves the modern-day Rosies," said McCoy. "With these guys, and how wonderful they are with my girls, we all just feel like family. We get invited to any of their functions, that they have off-property, and then we invite them to come here as often as they can."
The relationship between the Rosies and the restaurant began a couple of years ago.
"We started a Rosie Riveter day on Palm Sunday, probably four years before COVID started," said McCoy. "Then we would celebrate it every year and we get the Rosies to come in and they just love to be together."
McCoy, who has been the owner for 30 years, said that she enjoys treating the Rosies to a meal on the house when they come by.
"I just want to emphasize how important it is for us to celebrate these people while they're still here," she said. "We can learn so much from them and they've got their wits about them. They know and can tell us so much and I don't think we capitalize on it as much as we should. I'm just happy to have them here."
Friends turned into family
Doutly was all smiles for the celebration. She wore blue jeans, a blue sweater, and a red polka dot hat paired with a tier with "101" on it. Her long-term friend, caregiver Katie Moylan, said that Doutly is like a grandmother to her since she has no family and Doutly has no children.
The two met in 2014 through St. Patrick Senior Center in Detroit where Doutly is from and currently lives. Moylan often volunteered there and met Doutly. Moylan received an email through Ford Motor Co. about a competition regarding folks dressing up as Rosie the Riveter to break a Guinness World Record.
More:Rebel Nell partners with Michigan Humane for latest accessory collection
More:When the neighborhood smells like sewage: What to do
"I printed off the email, took it down the following Saturday, went to Clara, and said, "Did you tell me you're a Rosie?' She said, 'I am,' so I said, 'Well, you don't really know me, but you want to do this?
"From there, we got our costumes together, and God put us together," said Moylan. "We've been together ever since, she has no children, and I have no parents. She still lives on her own, I care for her, I make sure bills are paid or laundry is done."
. . .
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/10/20/wwii-american-rosie-clara-doutly-celebrates-101st-birthday/69574913007/
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