BAKERSFIELD, CA.- A dozen of Kern County's "Women of World War II" -- also known as Rosie the Riveters -- have new bragging rights this morning after being honored at the Guildhouse restaurant.
These hard-working women were riveters and welders, and performed other important functions;
they were among the eight million women recruited during World War II to support the war effort here at home.
"What I did were those bomb racks and i worked on the wings," chuckled Lonetta Johnson.
"Welding was a job you did because the men had all gone to war, including my husband, and you wanted to bring him back," said Evelyn Spencer
The Kern County Veterans Foundation organized the luncheon,referring to these women as "true inspirations."
The work they did had a much larger impact than supporting the war effort and keeping the home front together.
Their labors in traditionally male-dominated fields, paved the way for women to work in the same fields as men -- for the same pay.