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Submitted photo From left, Linda Shomo, Mike Ross, and Jim Sayers participate in the check presentation ceremony.
ELKINS — The Emma Scott Garden Club is receiving help to purchase a Rosie the Riveter statue to be erected just steps from the All Veterans Memorial on Railroad Avenue.
ESGC President Linda Shomo announced in November that the organization still needs to raise $23,000 to complete the purchase of the 8-foot-tall statue.
At the time, Shomo asked the Randolph County Commission to match local businessman Mike Ross’ $1,000 donation toward purchasing statues featuring Rosie’s name throughout West Virginia. He said he called. .
“The statue itself has been paid for, but we still need to raise about $20,000 to get the statue to Mr. Elkins.” Shomo told Intermountain on Thursday.
“We have to do a lot of work in the area that’s going to be there, like installing sidewalks and things like that. We also have to pay for the statue’s pedestal and shipping, which costs about $2,500.” There were a lot of little details, which I didn’t expect.”
Shomo recently received a check from Ross, who is now a member of the garden club, and donations from two other people who took up Ross’s offer: David Goldberg and Camille Fares. Mr. Goldberg, president and CEO of Mon Health System, matched Mr. Ross’ $1,000. Ms. Fares donated $1,500 in memory of Ms. Shomo’s mother, Leona M. Fares, who was Rosie. Camille Fares and Shomo are not related.
“I got another $50 check in the mail on Wednesday. I’m slowly saving up the money I need.” said Shomo. “We are truly grateful for everything we have received.”
Shomo said the outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming and she hopes to have the statue installed by Labor Day.
“We have a great community and the support has been great.” Shomo said. “America wouldn’t be America if it weren’t for Rosie the Riveters, and we all have a Rosie in our family. They didn’t all rivet, they typed, they sewed, they gardened. They did all sorts of things like grooming and doing all sorts of things. They’re an important part of history, and this statue will help honor them.”
Rosie the Riveter is a cultural icon of World War II, representing the women who worked in factories and shipyards during the war. Any woman who received a paycheck for essential work during World War II is considered a Rosie.
“I spoke to someone in Washington, D.C. recently, and he said he was excited that Elkins was doing something like this for Rosie’s.” Shomo said. “Our community can only benefit from this. I think Elkins will bring a lot of tourists to town to see this statue.”
For more information or to donate to the project, call ESGC at 304-614-3079.
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