Meet Raya Kenney and her remarkable journey

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In her words:  

When I was in 5th grade I watched A League of Their Own. And then I watched it again. And again. And pretty much every Saturday night my parents would let me. I became obsessed with the story of these women. I checked out every library book I could find and I learned way more about these women than I did about the war itself. While I had heard of Rosie the Riveter, I really had no idea how important these women were to the war efforts and how vast their responsibilities were. When my 5th grade teacher assigned me a project to build a model monument in Washington, DC for someone who wasn't already being honored, it was an easy call. 

That was seven years ago and I've been trying to get the monument built since. This is not a quick or easy process, but I think it's an important one. I love watching the WWII vets come to my home town of Washington, DC on the tour buses to view their memorial; they are so proud and I have often seen people stop and clap for them.

I think the women who helped on the home front and were so instrumental in the war deserve the same recognition. The National Memorial to the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation will help with that endeavor while increasing our understanding and appreciation of the contribution that these women made.  - Raya Kenney

March 20, 2023: Kenyon College 

We Can Do It - Raya Kenney ’25 navigates Capitol Hill, bureaucracy and fundraising to build a monument dedicated to the women who worked on the homefront during World War II.

January 16, 2023:  The Washington Post

Her 5th-grade idea was a monument to women. It just became law.

January 20, 2023:  Tammy Duckworth, US Senator for Illinois

BIPARTISAN BILL INTRODUCED TO ESTABLISH MEMORIAL HONORING WOMEN ON HOME FRONT DURING WWII

February 7, 2023: WUSA 9 News

When she was a 5th grader, she had an idea for a memorial; Now that idea has landed her a seat at the State Of The Union

March 28, 2022: The Georgetowner

Mapping Georgetown: A Georgetowner Leaving Her Mark

February 19, 2020: CBS Evening News

"We can do it": Teen determined to honor the working women of WWII with their own monument

Please visit Raya's website for frequent updates and to support her effort.