[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 9 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E45]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF CONNIE PALACIOZ

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                             HON. RON ESTES

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 16, 2025

  Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th 
birthday of Connie Palacioz, an American patriot and Wichita's very own 
``Rosie the Riveter.''
  Shortly after graduating high school in 1943, Connie volunteered to 
support our nation during World War II. Several family members were 
serving in the military, and she felt it was her duty as an American to 
contribute to the war effort as well.
  Connie left her job as a laundress and joined Boeing's B-29 
Superfortress assembly line in Wichita, Kansas. Starting at 50 cents an 
hour, she eventually doubled her wage, a testament to her hard work and 
dedication. In her role, she supported the production of the nose 
sections for the aircraft, manufacturing four sections each day. With 
the help of her partner, Jerri Warden, Connie contributed to the 
assembly of 1,644 B-29 bombers throughout the war, including one 
nicknamed ``Doc.''
  In 2000, Connie was reunited with ``Doc,'' which had been recovered 
from the Mojave Desert after decades of exposure to the elements. 
Remarkably, one of the pieces of the plane found in excellent condition 
was the nose section that Connie helped build nearly 60 years prior.
  Connie became a vital part of the restoration team, volunteering 
three days a week for sixteen years until the aircraft was fully 
restored, taking to the sky again in 2016.
  At the age of 97, Connie was honored as the inaugural member of the 
Kansas Women's Hall of Fame in Aviation. Today, I would like to once 
again honor her for a lifetime of service to our country. I thank 
Connie.

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