[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 184 (Wednesday, October 20, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1118-E1119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF CLARA DOUTLY

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                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 20, 2021

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Clara Doutly, 
a lifelong resident of Detroit, Michigan on the occasion of her 100th 
birthday. Her contributions to our community as a Rosie the Riveter are 
worthy of commendation,
  Born at Herman Keifer Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, she was the 
youngest of six siblings. She fondly remembers summers spent at Green 
Pastures Camp, a successful program of the Detroit Urban League for 
children to spend time in the great outdoors. An excellent student, she 
attended the prestigious Cass Technical High School. After the bombing 
of Pearl Harbor and the subsequent entrance of the United States into 
World War II, Mrs. Doutly heard the call and started working at Briggs 
Manufacturing Company in Detroit, making parts for the B-29 bomber 
aircraft. She worked there as a riveter from 1942 until the end of the 
war in 1945. As a Rosie, Clara's hard work, grit, and patriotism not 
only sustained the American war effort, but paved a path for the next 
generation of working women.
  Now a member of the American Rosie the Riveter Association, she seeks 
to preserve and celebrate the legacy of the Rosies. Through her 
membership, she's been able to board the first ever Rosie the Riveter 
Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., participate in the Detroit 
Thanksgiving Day Parade, and has been featured in National Geographic--
including in the June 2020 issue commemorating the 75th anniversary of 
the end of World War II.
  Full of life and joy, even at age 100, Mrs. Doutly's sayings and 
stories are legendary among those who know her. She is a living witness 
to history and loves to talk about her experiences during World War II. 
She talks of the days of Detroit's Paradise Valley, where she enjoyed 
the renowned musicians and nightlife. After the war ended, she married 
Sylvester Doutly and worked at Detroit Public

[[Page E1119]]

Schools, where she remained until her retirement. A proud member of St. 
Patrick's Senior Center in Detroit for over three decades, she is an 
active participant in the center's activities and trips. Prior to the 
pandemic, she could be found there catching up with friends each day.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating 
Clara Doutly on her 100th birthday. I join with her family and friends 
in extending my best and warmest wishes to her on this special day. I 
am proud to honor her life, her accomplishments, and her invaluable 
contributions to our Nation.

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