"Winnie the Welder" was the nickname given to thousands of women shipbuilders who answered the Nation's call to duty in the dark days of World War II. These women labored in the shipyards as supervisors, welders, painters, pipe coverers, crane operators, burners, scrapers, nurses, sheet metal workers, and cafeteria workers. The `Winnies' put in long hours and performed diligently under adverse conditions.

Winnie worked day in and day out to maintain the Nation's naval forces for about $1 a day. Nobody could question Winnie's work ethic as she tirelessly labored to pick up where the men had left off. When the call came, the tenacious Winnie was ready. She devoted herself to helping her country without hesitation of delay, often spending the day at the shipyard and serving at the United States Organizations clubs at night.

These ladies also manufactured other products for the war effort. These women may not have had any experience in factories and using these tools prior to this event, but yet they mastered the challenges that were asked of them by their country, and in my opinion they greatly affected the outcome of the war in a positive a manner, yet no monument has ever been dedicated to these awesome individuals.

There are some now in the form of my birds, all made with similar tools and similar materials that existed during the war. These individuals are now known as the "Greatest Generation" and I'm sure as time goes on and as each family does research on their own ancestory, they will find some family member who performed these services.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the book, "OUR MOTHERS' WAR", written by Emily Yellin. Other sources might include LIFE magazines, published during the war, or reunion and anniversary issues of the war. Additional sources might also include the book, "SILVER WINGS, SANTIAGO BLUE", written by author Janet Dailey.