fence or wall, which has been taught by his grandpa, on his pocketbook. Looking at the fairy, Rosie said, "Oh, what a cute jocular fairy! I love it! " They promised to meet at the restaurant on the evening of the day before Kilroy's departure. The night Kilroy was going to propose to Rosie. He was waiting for her at the regular table in the corner of the restaurant. Rosie did not come. Kilroy in grief asked the restaurant owner for permission for one thing, and the owner, who well knew the circumstances, agreed with good grace. Kilroy took out a rivet, his good-luck charm, from his pocket and engraved with it on the table, "Kilroy was here." Above the notation, an illustration of the cute jocular fairy was also carved. A number of soldiers poured in Boston in order to depart for Europe. The restaurant was also flourishing with them. They were amused at the notation and the illustration carved on the table in the corner. In fact, she had been hastily going to the restaurant on the evening Kilroy was there, but on her way, she was involved in a traffic accident. She had been admitted to a hospital. About a month after Kilroy departed for Europe, Rosie came to the restaurant. Rosie looked at the notation and the illustration engraved on the table. She tearfully handed a memo to the owner, asking, "Please give Kilroy this memo if he comes back from Europe." The memo included her address in California. Kilroy survived the war, returned to Boston from the battle line in Europe, and visited the restaurant. After reading the memo, Kilroy went in a hurry to Richmond in California, and found Rosie who was a riveter in a shipyard there. Kilroy proposed marriage to Rosie. Rumor has it that they are still living happily among many grandchildren at a small town in a nook of the U.S. Note: 1. During World War II, a big campaign designed to make an appeal for female workers was conducted in the U.S. The most famous poster used for this campaign was a picture of Rosie, a female riveter, which was drawn with the slogan, "We Can Do It!" Thus, the expression "Rosie the riveter" has become a synonym for the women who worked in place of men during World War II. Some assert that the name "Rosie" was derived from the model of the picture, Rose Will Monroe, a riveter in Michigan. Strictly, however, Rosie of "Rosie the riveter" is an imaginary character. At present, there is "ROSIE THE RIVETER MEMORIAL" in Richmond, California, where many women served in shipyards during World War II. Note: 2. Many women as "Rosie the riveter" might have made the ships at Richmond in California for battles against Japan. However, more than half a century have passed since then. We the people of Japan pay respect to the women's patriotic spirit.



Sincerely,

Makio Mukai, M.D.

