Positively Las Vegas
Rosie the Riveter continues to serve into old age
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- A woman close to 90-years-old who spends her days sewing blankets for the needy says it's no big deal. It's just what you do when you come from a generation that helps people. She is making Las Vegas a better place to live.
"I got a little factory over there. I sew," says Millie Wood. "I must have made over a thousand blankets."
All of those blankets go to people who need them, specifically Volunteer Angels, a non profit group that donates to needy families with young children.
"Millie will do anything she's capable of doing to help the community," says president of Volunteer Angels, Suzanne Fain.
Five years ago Millie first met Suzanne when she still worked at University Medical Center.
"She loves the community and she loves to help people. She doesn't even have to know who they are," says Fain.
Since then she has sat at home sewing blankets made with love and a little bit of feisty-ness.
"I have fun doing this. I really do," says Millie. "When I get bored I come in here, or go for a walk."
Long before she walked into UMC asking to serve, Millie says her desire to serve came from her time as a Rosie the Riveter.
"World War II broke out. My brother wanted to fight. So I had to do it too, because my father always said this is the best country in the world," she recalls.
Rosie the Riveters, cultural icons during the 1940's, worked in factories producing munitions and war supplies. Millie worked on Corsair planes.
"I was a riveter on the beams that go like this. That's what I did. I worked a midnight shift. I would push my gun in there and she would push it this way, and then I would go ratatatatat. And it's in."
Throughout her life, Millie has continued to serve those around her, volunteering for different charities and even becoming a nurse's aide.
"It's just natural what comes to me. If I had to go rivet again I would go, but nobody wants me. I'm too old," she chuckles. "What do you want from me? I'm too old!"
But not too old to sew.
"That's why God has not taken me. I'm too busy," exclaims Millie.
As busy as Millie is she finally did something for herself. She left high school early at 15-years-old to go work in the factories; first for her family then for her country. She recently went back to school and graduated from high school.






This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.