[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 89 (Thursday, May 25, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING VIRGINIA BASLER'S SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2023

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Virginia Basler, 
a resident of Ypsilanti, Michigan on the occasion of her 100th 
birthday. Her dedication to her country and local community is worthy 
of commendation.
  Virginia was born in Alpena, Michigan on a family farm as the middle 
of three children. During WWII, while her older brother enlisted in the 
Air Force, Virginia and a friend moved down to Ypsilanti to work at the 
Willow Run Bomber Plant. For almost two years, she worked on the 
production line, drilling rivet holes for B-24 Liberator bombers.
  As soon as she met the age requirement, Virginia enlisted in the 
Coast Guard Women's Reserves (SPARS) in order to serve her country in 
another way. She attended Boot Camp at Sheepshead Bay, New York where 
she was trained as a baker, and she was assigned to the Coast Guard 
Station in Washington, D.C. where she would remain for the duration of 
the war. After her service was finished, Virginia came back to 
Ypsilanti where she again worked at the Willow Run Plant, now a Kaiser-
Frazer car factory.
  In the decades since, Virginia has lived a full life. She married 
Leonard, a WWII veteran himself, and raised a family of three children. 
She continued her life of service, cooking for Ypsilanti Public Schools 
and Eastern Michigan University. Since her retirement in 1990, Virginia 
has been active in the community, volunteering for Meals on Wheels and 
the local charity Thrift Shop. She has been very active with the 
American Rosie the Riveter Association, attending events with other 
Rosies and WWII vets. We were overjoyed to host Virginia and other 
Rosies in the Capitol during the Honor Flight event last month.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating 
Virginia Basler's tremendous life of service to her community and her 
nation. No request for help has ever been too big or too small for her 
to consider. We thank her for her service and wish her the happiest of 
birthdays.