Veteran’s Day, which is
celebrated annually on November
11, commemorates
the hardworking men and
women who sacrifi ce their
time and put themselves in
harm’s way to defend the
country’s core values of freedom
and opportunity. While
Veteran’s Day certainly is a
chance to honor those who
have donned the uniform
during wars and military installments,
it also can be a
chance to recognize the unsung
heroes of wartime —
those who step into roles so
that soldiers and strategists
can focus their attention
elsewhere.
Take for example Naomi
Parker Fraley. In 1942, Fraley
was a machine shop
worker at the Naval Air Station
in Alameda, Calif. She
was one of scores women
who worked in factories and
shipyards during World War
II, helping to produce munitions
and war supplies. Parker
was 20 years old in 1942
and served as the inspiration
for what would become
one of the most indelible images
of the era, known as
“Rosie the Riveter.” Parker
unknowingly inspired the
iconic image after she was
photographed at work bent
over an industrial machine in
a jumpsuit with her hair tied
back in a polka-dot bandana.
In 2018, Naomi Parker
Fraley died at the age of 96,
not nearly the household
name she perhaps should
have been.
Rosie the Riveter helped
to tout the contributions of
female war employees who
were defending America by
working on the homefront.
Rosie was a successful morale
booster, and some may
be surprised to learn that
Rosie has various incarnations.
Combat veterans and the threat posed by PTSD
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, N 46 OVEMBER 8-14, 2019 BTR
Norman Rockwell’s depiction
of a female riveter,
which appeared on the cover
of the Saturday Evening
Post on May 29, 1943, became
an iconic staple of that
time. Muscular, with a rivet
gun on her lap, a sandwich
in hand and a boot stomping
on a copy of “Mein Kampf”
— and timed perfectly to
coincide with the release
of a song called “Rosie the
Riveter” by Redd Evans and
John Jacob Loeb — Rosie
became a household name.
But another Rosie image actually
predates Rockwell’s
Post cover.
Naomi Parker Fraley
was reportedly the inspiration
for an ad created by a
lesser known artist named
J. Howard Miller. Miller produced
a “We Can Do It!”
poster for Westinghouse
Electric in 1942 aimed at
boosting spirits among the
company’s workers. The
poster helped to recruit new
female personnel, according
to scholar James J. Kimble.
This Rosie was portrayed in
a red bandana with her bent
arm fl exed, rolling up her
shirtsleeve.
Both Miller’s and Rockwell’s
depictions of female
war workers became ingrained
in popular culture.
Rockwell’s cover art was
eventually loaned to the U.S.
Department of the Treasury
for use in war bond drives
for the duration of the war.
Miller’s version has been
emulated for generations
and still epitomizes a strong
female presence in the
workforce.
This Veteran’s Day is a
prime time to delve into
American wartime history,
with interesting stories like
the origins of Rosie the Riveter,
and pay homage to all
of the heroes that help ensure
America’s reputation as
a great nation.
Honoring all heroes
this Veteran’s Day
Every day men and women in the
military put themselves in harm’s
way to protect the lives and freedoms
of their fellow countrymen.
These brave men and women pay a
steep price for their service, spending
time away from their loved ones
and putting themselves at risk of
long-term physical and mental injuries.
Many men and women, even those
who never served in the military,
are aware of post-traumatic stress
disorder, or PTSD, a mental health
problem that some people develop
after experiencing or witnessing a
life-threatening event. Combat veterans
are vulnerable to PTSD, and
the percentage of veterans who
deal with it each day is alarming.
According to the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs, as many as 20
percent of veterans who served
during Operations Iraqi Freedom or
Enduring Freedom have PTSD. In
addition, the USDVA notes that estimates
now suggest as many as 30
percent of Vietnam veterans have
had PTSD in their lifetime.
Though it’s not exclusive to men
and women who have served in the
military, PTSD has long been linked
to combat veterans. In fact, the
American Psychiatric Association
notes that PTSD has been referred
to as “shell shock” and “combat fatigue”
in the past.
While the APA notes that a diagnosis
of PTSD requires exposure to
an upsetting traumatic event, that
exposure can be indirect rather than
fi rsthand. Because some people
may assume that only fi rsthand exposure
to trauma can lead to PTSD,
many may be suffering in silence.
That makes it all the more important
that people learn to recognize
the symptoms of PTSD. According
to the APA, symptoms of PTSD,
which can vary in severity, fall into
four categories.
1. Intrusive thoughts: Flashbacks,
distressing dreams and repeated,
involuntary memories are examples
of intrusive thoughts symptomatic
of PTSD. The APA notes that some
people with PTSD experience fl ashbacks
so vivid that they feel they are
reliving the traumatic experience
or that it is unfolding before their
eyes.
2. Avoiding reminders: Some
people with PTSD may avoid people,
places, activities, objects, or
situations they feel will trigger distressing
memories. Soldiers, for
example, may avoid interacting with
fellow combat veterans. Avoiding
discussions about a traumatic event
and how they feel about it is another
symptom of PTSD.
3. Negative thoughts and feelings:
The APA says that negative
thoughts and feelings may include
ongoing and distorted beliefs
about oneself or others; ongoing
fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame;
considerably diminished interest
in activities previously enjoyed;
and a sense of estrangement and
detachment from others.
4. Arousal and reactive symptoms:
These symptoms may include
irritability and angry outbursts;
reckless or self-destructive
behavior; being easily startled; or
have diffi culty concentrating or
sleeping.
PTSD poses a signifi cant threat
to the men and women who serve
in the military. Additional resources
about PTSD is available at
www.ptsd.va.gov and www.psychiatry.
org.
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