There is one front and one battle where everyone in the United States—every man, woman, and child—is in action and will be privileged to remain in action throughout this war. That front is right here at home, in our daily lives and in our daily tasks. Here at home everyone will have the privilege of making whatever self-denial is necessary, not only to supply our fighting men, but to keep the economic structure of our country fortified and secure during the war and after the war.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s radio broadcast to the nation, April 28, 1942


Friday, April 1, 2011

Do You Hear Belles?


Brenda


DO YOU HEAR BELLES?

Sorry to be boastful,
but a woman can do
most anything nowadays.
She picks up a shovel
to turn over a victory garden.
She hefts a welding torch
and puts together a Victory Ship.
And now I’ve heard,
that right here in Wisconsin,
women have shown up
to replace men on
baseball diamonds.
Summer’s coming and I
can’t wait to see those Belles
put together a victory season!


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Welding photo courtesy Library of Congress. Photo of Sophie Kurys of the Racine Belles from the author's personal collection.

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