The governor and senator of Arkansas salute “Rosie the Riveter” as she celebrates her 100th birthday

Little Rock, Arkansas – On Saturday, Mary Emily Mora Harrison of Tull, Arkansas, the state’s own “Rosie the Riveter,” celebrated her 100th birthday. During World War II, Emily was employed as a riveter at a defense company in San Diego.

Emily received a letter of congratulations from the governor and a good-natured Senate recognition for her service to the country during World War II at her birthday celebration.
State Sen. Kim Hammer, (R) District 16, who serves as Emily’s pastor at Saline Missionary Baptist Church, gave her the official commendations. Emily claims she feels 35.

“Achieving this amazing milestone is a real monument to a life well lived, filled with knowledge, resiliency, and many memories. I want to express my sincere congratulations and best wishes to you on behalf of the people of Arkansas. May you have a year full of happiness, love, and spending time with loved ones. Miss Harrison, happy birthday. Regards, Hammer read from the governor’s letter to Emily, “Sarah Huckabee Sanders, governor of the great state of Arkansas.”
“The fact that they recognized her is simply amazing. And we’re simply a really proud family,” Emily’s daughter Lisa Tull remarked.

Following high school, Emily and her sisters relocated to San Diego, where they found employment as riveters at the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation, or “Convair,” defense plant. During World War II, Emily joined the many other women who worked as laborers in the defense industry while the majority of the male workforce was deployed.
“I asked Mom, ‘What did you do at the defense plant?’ She and her sisters built bomber airplanes.” Then she said, ‘I did a lot of stuff,'” Robert Terry Harrison, Emily’s son, imitated dramatically.

Emily remarked, “It wasn’t hard work, it wasn’t hard,” Emily met her future husband, Robert, an Arkansas sailor, while she was living in San Diego. In keeping with his Arkansas heritage, Robert took a fairly sophisticated approach to romance.

“He inserted a stick into the back of her hair, and she said, ‘Eh.'” However, it began when they skated together and became acquainted, according to their daughter Diana Lounsbury.

After a year of marriage, Emily and Robert raised seven children in California, but their love was stronger than that, and they welcomed other kids, including their nephew, into their family.

“They started raising me when I was around fifteen years old. My Aunt Emily is someone I adore. Henry Dean Harrison, Emily’s nephew, remarked, “I love my brothers and sisters, and I consider them my brothers and sisters.”

The family eventually returned to Arkansas and settled in Grant County’s tiny hamlet of Tull.
Emily is not alone, though, as five of her children reside in Tull and the others are just a short drive away. Robert passed away in 2000. Thus, everyone was able to celebrate her birthday together!

Emily’s family claims that she was competitive with her sisters. According to her son Johnny Harrison, “My mother always said she was going to beat her sisters and live to be 100.” “And she did!”

It is clear that Emily’s greatest legacy is the large, amazing family she raised, even though her status as a “Rosie the Riveter” in American history is certain. “Our mother’s always led us in a Christian home, and she’s just a testament to what our lives should be,” Lisa stated.

“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 Betty Harrison Carson, the daughter of Emily.

It seems like Emily’s whole family attended the joyous birthday celebration, including her 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.