News 6 Mashup: March 16, 2020
Here are the top stories for the week of March 16, 2020, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt:
Real ‘Rosie the Riveter’ dies at age 95
CBS News reported that in early March, the real “Rosie the Riveter” died at the age of 95. CBS said, “Rosalind Walter, the inspiration behind the symbol, died in Manhattan . . . She was just 19 when she volunteered to take a night shift position on a Connecticut assembly line.” She was profiled in a local newspaper in 1942, and songwriters Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb wrote the tune “Rosie the Riveter.” It was a hit, and she was cast in American history. Her rolled up sleeves and headscarf were just part of the legacy that she left behind. Rosalind Walter went on to help fund children’s programs, wildlife conservation efforts, and was also PBS’s biggest funder. Watch CBS’s video tribute report about the incredible woman who continues to inspire.
Soldiers Sworn in from International Space Station
For the first time ever, future soldiers and cadets were sworn in by Army astronaut Colonel Andrew Morgan, currently serving as the flight engineer on the International Space Station. KEYC News from Mankato, Minnesota, said that it was done to “showcase the diversity of career paths available when signing up for service.”
More than 1,000 future soldiers from 150 locations were sworn in via live telecast from the Space Station. Florida Today shared video of the event.
Panera Bread, AAFES Partner
Panera Bread may be coming to a military installation near you. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service has partnered with Panera and will be coming to select locations beginning in 2020, according to Command Sergeant Major Luis Reyes. This is part of the Exchange’s BE FIT focus on healthy lifestyles and an effort to bring healthier dining options.
Green Plastic Army Women Coming Fall 2020
BMC Toys will be creating new plastic green Army women, reported ArmyTimes.com. Last year, Vivian, a 6-year-old girl from Arkansas, wrote BMC Toys asking why they didn’t have women toy soldiers. This sparked a kickstarter campaign that reached its funding goal in under twelve hours. According to BMC Toys, the plastic Army women will include 36 figures in 12 different poses and be available in OD Green, Tan, and Pink. Among the figures some of the most anticipated are a Pathfinder Captain, Running Rifleman, and Military Working Dog and Handler. A separate Rosie the Riveter figure will also be available in Fall 2020.
Panera image: By Miosotis Jade – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50429687
