[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 90 (Thursday, May 23, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF VIRGINIA BASLER AND HER SERVICE TO THE UNITED 
                           STATES OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 2024

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of 
Virginia Basler, a resident of Ypsilanti, Michigan and veteran of WWII, 
and to mourn her passing. Her dedication to her country and local 
community over a long and exceptional life 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) 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 after, Virginia 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 the Ypsilanti Public 
Schools and Eastern Michigan University. Following her retirement in 
1990, Virginia was active in the community, volunteering for Meals on 
Wheels and the local charity Thrift Shop. She was also 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 in 2023.
  Getting to know Virginia over the years meant a lot to me. As a 
Rosie, she and her colleagues were not only vital members of our 
Nation's efforts during the Second World War, but they opened doors and 
have been inspirations for the generations of women that followed. Her 
wisdom and strength inspired many, including myself, to reach for 
achievements that in past generations would have been unthinkable.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today celebrating the 
life of Virginia Basler. Virginia was an incredible representation of 
answering our Nation's highest calling. She served her country with 
honor in WWII and afterward throughout her local community, bringing 
joy, enthusiasm, and love to everyone she met along the way. We mourn 
with her loved ones and thank them for sharing Virginia with us.