Local News

Planting ‘Tulipa Rosie’

Ceremony at All-Veterans Memorial Park honors Rosie the Riveter tulip

ELKINS – A special ribbon-cutting and commemorative planting ceremony took place Monday to unveil an extraordinary tulip at the Rosie the Riveter Statue in the All-Veterans Memorial Park.

The special tulip, known as “The Tulipa Rosie Tulip” was developed in the Netherlands as a tribute to Rosie the Riveters. Meeuwers Brouwer, a representative of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Washington. D.C., served as the guest speaker for Monday’s event.

Brouwer, who is the Agriculture Commissioner for the Netherlands, talked about the enduring friendship between the Netherlands and the United States. He expressed gratitude to the American soldiers who helped liberate the Netherlands during World War II, and the women who supported them on the home front.

Local and state leaders, Rosie family members, veterans, clubs, civic organizations and community members came out for the celebrations. Lorraine Moran, who turned 103 years old in July, also attended the event. Moran is a Rosie the Riveter who served the U.S. during World War II.

Members of Elkins American Legion Post 29, Belington American Legion Post 96, and Elkins Color Guards held opening ceremonies for the event. Local musician Nina Hebb sang the National Anthem and the West Virginia Highlanders performed before American Legion Post 29 commander Lenny Whritenour and adjutant Mike Cardinal presented Brouwer with an American flag.

Speakers at the event included West Virginia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leihardt, Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco, Veterans Memorial Council President Jeff Wood, State Senator Robbie Morris, Congressman Riley Moore’s Senior Field Representative Rhett Dusenbury, Randolph County Commissioner Kenna Barger, Davis & Elkins College Vice President for Institutional Advancement Scott Goddard, American Rosie Movement Executive Director Anne Montague, and event organizer and Emma Scott Garden Club member Linda Shomo.

“On behalf of my co-senator Bill Hamilton and I, we would like to welcome everyone to Elkins for this truly special occasion,” Morris said. “Every time I’m in the presence of Mrs. (Lorraine) Moran and our veterans, I’m humbled when I think about the sacrifice and courage they have shown throughout their lives in defense of our country and our homeland. I’ve had the honor of being with this Rosie statue throughout its time here in Elkins, starting with the parade that was held when it was delivered to Elkins. The dedication when its construction was completed and now here today. Every time I’m on this ground I’m inspired.”

Liene Duijn, Wouter Vondeling and Lasse Schrieken, who are three Davis & Elkins students from the Netherlands, were recognized at the event and Daria Rayne Phares, a first-grade student at Jennings Elementary School, presented Brouwer with a drawing from her classroom.

A group of residents from the Elkins Mountain School, along with their supervisor Carrie Moore, was recognized for upkeep work they have done at the statue in recent months. Matt Davis and Larry Gouer from Mary’s Greenhouse provided instructions for Rosie descendants and community members planting new Tulipa Rosie Tulip Bulbs.

Rosie the Riveter is a cultural icon that represents the women who worked in factories and shipyards during the war. Any woman who received pay for any essential work during war is considered a Rosie.

The Rosie Tulips will be planted around the 6-foot-3-inch bronze Rosie the Riveter Statue that is located behind the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument on Railroad Avenue. The statue was unveiled at the location in July 2025 and is the only Rosie the Riveter statue of its kind in West Virginia. The statue was a project of the Emma Scott Garden Club.