Arkansas 'Rosie the Riveter' celebrates 100th birthday, honored by governor and Senate

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Saturday, Arkansas celebrated the 100th birthday of its very own "Rosie the Riveter," Mary Emily Mora Harrison of Tull, Arkansas. Emily worked as a riveter at a defense plant in San Diego during World War II.

At her birthday party, Emily was presented with both a congratulatory letter from the governor and a citation from the Senate—the good kind—in honor of her work in service of the nation during World War II.

Emily, who says she feels 35, was presented with the official commendations by State Sen. Kim Hammer, (R) District 16, who is also her pastor at Saline Missionary Baptist Church.

"Reaching such an incredible milestone is a true testament to a well-lived life full of wisdom, resilience, and countless memories. On behalf of the people of Arkansas, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to you. And may your year be filled with love, joy, and the company of family and friends who cherish you. Happy birthday, Miss Harrison. Sincerely, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, governor of the great state of Arkansas," Hammer read from the governor's letter to Emily.

"It's just awesome, it's awesome that they acknowledged her. And we're just very proud, a very proud family," said Lisa Tull, Emily's daughter.

After she graduated from high school, Emily and her sisters moved to San Diego together and got jobs at the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation or "Convair" defense plant, where Emily worked as a riveter, pitching in alongside many other women during World War II who worked as laborers in the defense industry while much of the male workforce was deployed.

"Her and her sisters built bomber airplanes, and I asked mom 'what did you do at the defense plant?' And she said 'I did a lot of this,'" said Emily's son Robert Terry Harrison while mimicking riveting.

"It wasn't hard work, it wasn't hard," Emily told KATV.

While living in San Diego, Emily met her future husband Robert, a sailor from Arkansas. True to his Arkansas roots, Robert had a very sophisticated approach when it came to courtship.

"He like, took a stick and stuck it in the back of her [hair] and so, she was like, 'eh.' But then they got acquainted and skated together and that started it," said Diana Lounsbury, their daughter.

Emily and Robert got married a year later and raised seven children in California, but their capacity for love was greater than even that, as they took other children into their home, including their nephew.

"They raised me from when I was probably 15 years old. I love my Aunt Emily so much. And I love my brothers and sisters, I consider them my brothers and sisters," said Henry Dean Harrison, Emily's nephew.

Eventually, the family moved back to Arkansas, settling in the small town of Tull in Grant County.

Robert passed away in 2000, but Emily is far from alone, as five of her children live in Tull, and the others are only a short drive away. So, everybody got to be together for her birthday!

According to her family, Emily had a competitive spirit with her sisters.

"My ma always said she was going to beat her sisters and live to be 100," said her son Johnny Harrison. "And she did!"

Though her place in American history as a "Rosie the Riveter" is assured, it is easy to see that Emily's greatest legacy is the big, wonderful family she raised.

"Our mother's always led us in a Christian home, and she's just a testament to what our lives should be," Lisa said.

"Knowing our dad, he served in the Navy, and then what momma did and her sisters too also as 'Rosie Riveters'...it's just something really neat that not a lot of people get to share about their mom," said Emily's daughter, Betty Harrison Carson.

Emily has 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren, and it seemed like all of them were at that very happy birthday party.

And from all of us at KATV, happy birthday, Emily!