By Kathy Chouteau
The spirit of “We Can Do It” was alive and well at this year’s Rosie Rally, which returned to Richmond on Saturday, June 7, after a seven-year hiatus to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park.
Held outside the park’s visitor center on Harbour Way South, the family-friendly event celebrated the enduring legacy of women who contributed to the WWII home front effort—and included a grassroots campaign to rename the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to the “Rosie the Riveter Bridge.”
The rally featured a nostalgic mix of 1940s-themed music, costume contests, food trucks, and community booths, along with a rare opportunity to meet and celebrate surviving “Rosies”—many of whom were honored onstage, wheeled out to applause by a group of National Park Service volunteers known as the “Rosie Wranglers.”
Vendors, nonprofits and local businesses offered information and giveaways such as longtime park supporter Chevron Richmond, the Nor Cal Carpenters Union, the U.S.S. Hornet Sea, Air, & Space Museum, Boilermakers Local 549 and the SS Red Oak Victory The Rosie the Riveter Visitor Center also hosted a tent selling Rosie bandanas, along with an auction of custom Rosie-themed jean jackets created by a park employee.
The event wasn’t just about honoring the past—it also looked toward the future. Organizers and community leaders used the rally to gather signatures for a petition supporting the renaming of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to the Rosie the Riveter Bridge. The effort aims to recognize the pivotal role of Bay Area shipyard workers—especially women—during WWII, many of whom helped build Liberty and Victory ships in Richmond and Marin City.
Supporters say the renaming would symbolize unity, sacrifice, and resilience, while elevating the national profile of Richmond’s unique historical contribution. While the bridge is officially named the John F. McCarthy Memorial Bridge, advocates are calling for a dual naming that keeps McCarthy’s designation intact while publicly celebrating Rosie’s legacy.
The Rosie the Riveter Trust, the nonprofit partner of the national park, hopes the Rosie Rally and renaming campaign will inspire new generations to embrace the history of the home front and the lessons of collective action.
Mike Aldax contributed to this report
